The Debut
Brief Synopsis
Cast & Crew
Gene Cajayon
Dante Basco
Bernadette Balagtas
Tirso Cruz Iii
Gina Alajar
Eddie Garcia
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
Ben has spent his life trying to get out from under his father's thumb. His father Roland gave up everything to bring his family to the U.S. from the Philippines, and he expects his son to make the same kind of sacrifice by choosing a career as an MD. But Ben is an aspiring cartoon artist, and he wants to learn animation-an impossible dream in his father's opinion, especially since Ben just won a full pre-med scholarship. When his extended family gathers for sister Rose's birthday party, Ben starts to realize how much family history is repeating itself. His own father's dreams of becoming a singer were mercilessly crushed by Ben's domineering Filipino grandfather, Lolo Carlos. When Ben is challenged by his girlfriend's ex, everyone must deal with the consequences.
Director
Gene Cajayon
Cast
Dante Basco
Bernadette Balagtas
Tirso Cruz Iii
Gina Alajar
Eddie Garcia
Joy Bisco
Derek Basco
Darion Basco
Dion Basco
Fe De Los Reyes
Jason Schaal
Brandon Martin
Ernie Zarate
Gloria Sevilla
Kayamanan Ng Lahi
Kaba Modern
Crew
Hisham Abed
Dexter Adriano
Salvatore Baldomar
Bill Berry
Tym Buacharern
Gene Cajayon
Gene Cajayon
John Manal Castro
John Manal Castro
Pia Clemente
John M Davis
John M Davis
Patricio Ginelsa
Midy Hahn
Kenn Kashima
Alex Macinnis
Nobuo Nakano
Matt Nicolay
Francis E Ocon
Lisa Onodera
Gloria Perretti
Claudia Rebar
Michael Rizzo
Kormann Roque
Peter Shiao
Wendell J Yuponce
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Miscellaneous Notes
Released in United States Fall July 20, 2001
Released in United States October 18, 2002
Released in United States on Video September 9, 2003
Released in United States November 2000
Released in United States March 2001
Shown at Hawaii International Film Festival November 3-19, 2000.
Shown at San Francisco International Asian-American Film Festival March 8-15, 2001.
Shown at Santa Barbara International Film Festival March 1-11, 2001.
Feature directorial debut for Gene Cajayon.
Completed shooting November 16, 1997.
Began shooting October 21, 1997.
Released in United States Fall July 20, 2001
Released in United States October 18, 2002 (New York City)
Released in United States on Video September 9, 2003
Released in United States November 2000 (Shown at Hawaii International Film Festival November 3-19, 2000.)
Released in United States March 2001 (Shown at San Francisco International Asian-American Film Festival March 8-15, 2001.)
Released in United States March 2001 (Shown at Santa Barbara International Film Festival March 1-11, 2001.)
