The Debut
Movie • 2000
ReportSynopsis
Filipino-American high school student Ben (Dante Mercado) works in a comic book shop to earn money to pay his way into Cal Arts. His father, a postman, is determined that his son--who has won a pre-med scholarship to UCLA--will become a doctor. The eighteenth birthday party of Ben's sister, Rose, sets off a comedic and touching series of events and family struggles that will in turn determine young Ben's future. This fresh independent production from Gene Cajayon presents a lighthearted and warm coming-of-age tale filtered through the eyes of an American subculture rarely seen on film.
Filter to only show:
Both
Yes
No
Your Triggers
Yes
0
No
1
Needs More Answers
Yes
0
No
1
Yes
0
No
0
Yes
0
No
1
Yes
0
No
1
Yes
0
No
0
Yes
0
No
1
Yes
0
No
0
Yes
0
No
1
Yes
0
No
1
Yes
1
No
0
Yes
0
No
0
Yes
0
No
1
Yes
1
No
0
Yes
0
No
0
Yes
0
No
1
Yes
0
No
0
Yes
0
No
0
Yes
0
No
0
Yes
0
No
1
Does someone die by suicide?
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-8255)
127 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
1
Does someone attempt suicide?
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-8255)
123 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
0
Yes
0
No
0
Yes
0
No
0
Yes
0
No
0
Yes
0
No
1
Is there domestic violence?
National Domestic Violence Hotline (1-800-799-7233)
117 supporters
Add comment
Yes
1
No
0
Yes
0
No
1
Yes
0
No
1
Yes
0
No
0
Are there incestuous relationships?
National Sexual Assault Hotline 800.656.4673
102 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
1
Yes
0
No
0
Yes
0
No
1
Yes
0
No
1
Yes
1
No
0
Yes
0
No
1
Is there blood/gore?
81 supporters
Yes
1
No
0
0
Flwrs
In a fight scene, there is slight blood on Ben and Gusto’s faces.
1 comment | Add comment
Yes
0
No
1
Yes
0
No
1
Yes
0
No
0
Yes
0
No
0
Yes
0
No
0
Yes
0
No
1
Yes
0
No
0
Yes
0
No
0
Yes
0
No
0
Yes
0
No
1
Yes
0
No
1
Yes
0
No
1
Yes
0
No
1
Yes
0
No
0
Yes
0
No
1
Yes
0
No
1
Yes
0
No
1
Yes
0
No
0
Yes
0
No
0
Yes
0
No
1
Yes
0
No
0
Yes
0
No
1
Yes
0
No
0
Yes
0
No
0
Yes
0
No
1
Yes
0
No
1
Yes
0
No
1
Yes
0
No
0
Yes
0
No
0
Yes
0
No
0
Yes
1
No
0
Yes
0
No
1
Yes
0
No
1
Yes
0
No
0
Yes
0
No
0
Yes
1
No
0
Yes
0
No
0
Yes
0
No
0
Yes
0
No
0
Yes
0
No
1
Yes
0
No
0
Yes
0
No
1
Yes
0
No
1
Yes
0
No
0
Yes
0
No
1
Yes
0
No
0
Yes
0
No
1
Yes
0
No
0
Does someone say "I'll kill myself"?
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-8255)
41 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
1
Yes
1
No
0
Yes
0
No
0
Yes
0
No
1
Yes
0
No
1
Yes
1
No
0
Yes
0
No
0
Yes
0
No
0
Yes
0
No
0
Yes
0
No
0
Yes
0
No
0
Yes
0
No
0
Yes
0
No
1
Yes
0
No
0
Yes
0
No
1
Yes
0
No
0
Yes
0
No
0
Yes
0
No
0
Does the abused become the abuser?
National Domestic Violence Hotline (1-800-799-7233)
35 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
0
Yes
0
No
0
Does a woman get slapped?
National Domestic Violence Hotline (1-800-799-7233)
34 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
0
Yes
0
No
1
Yes
0
No
1
Yes
0
No
1
Yes
0
No
0
Yes
0
No
0
Yes
0
No
1
Yes
0
No
1
Yes
0
No
1
Yes
0
No
0
Yes
0
No
1
Yes
0
No
1
Yes
0
No
0
Yes
0
No
0
Yes
0
No
1
Yes
0
No
1
Yes
0
No
0
Yes
0
No
1
Yes
0
No
0
Yes
0
No
1
Yes
0
No
0
Yes
0
No
0
Yes
0
No
1
Yes
1
No
0
Yes
0
No
0
Yes
0
No
0
Yes
0
No
1
Yes
0
No
1
Yes
0
No
1
Yes
0
No
0
Yes
0
No
0
Yes
0
No
1
Yes
0
No
0
Yes
0
No
0
Yes
0
No
0
Yes
0
No
1
Yes
0
No
1
Yes
0
No
0
Yes
0
No
0
Yes
0
No
0
Yes
0
No
0
Yes
0
No
0
Yes
0
No
0
Yes
0
No
1
Yes
0
No
0
Yes
0
No
1
Yes
0
No
1
Yes
0
No
1
Yes
0
No
0
Yes
0
No
0
Yes
0
No
0
Yes
0
No
1
Yes
0
No
0
Yes
0
No
0
Yes
0
No
0
Yes
0
No
1
Yes
0
No
0
Yes
0
No
0
Yes
0
No
0
Yes
0
No
0
Yes
0
No
0
Yes
0
No
0
Yes
0
No
0
Yes
0
No
0
Yes
0
No
1
Yes
0
No
0
Yes
0
No
0
Yes
0
No
0
Yes
0
No
0
Yes
0
No
0
Yes
0
No
0
Yes
0
No
0
Yes
0
No
0
Yes
0
No
0
Yes
0
No
0
Yes
0
No
0
Yes
0
No
0
Yes
0
No
1
Yes
0
No
1
Yes
0
No
0
Yes
0
No
1
Yes
0
No
0
Yes
0
No
1
Yes
0
No
0
Yes
0
No
0
Yes
0
No
1
Yes
0
No
0
Yes
0
No
0
Yes
0
No
1
Yes
0
No
0
Yes
0
No
1
Yes
0
No
1
Yes
0
No
0
Yes
0
No
0
Yes
0
No
0
Yes
0
No
1
Yes
1
No
0
Yes
0
No
0
Yes
0
No
0
Where to Watch
