Class Notes: Week #6

The Debut (2000)

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0163745/?ref_=nv_sr_3?ref_=nv_sr_3

Directed By: Gene Cajayon

Filipino family.

Ruben AKA Ben is a high school senior. He is an artist and wants to attend CalArts. His family (especially father) wants him to attend UCLA. He had a scholarship to UCLA but sold his comic books to pay for CalArts tuition.

Ben and his father have issues, his father also has issues with his grandfather.

Ben thinks he’s better than his family because he hangs out with white people. His friends come over for the first time and he is embarrassed by his family.

Ben’s sister, Rose is having a birthday party. Ben wants to go for a little bit but have his white friends pick him up and take him to a party.

Tagalog – Filipino language.’

Ben and Rose don’t seem to know their grandfather. They are supposed to kiss his hand when greeting him.

Father says Ben is spoiled.

Ben starts hanging out with Annabelle at the party, who is the ex girlfriend of Gusto, Ben’s old friend.

Ben’s white friends join the birthday party.

Gusto brought a gun to the party and becomes mad at Ben for hanging out with Annabelle.

Ben and his friends go to the party. Where they play the game never have I ever. Ben encounters racist comments.

“never have I ever ate a dog”

“never have I ever ate a cat”

She then goes on to call him a “fucking chink”

Ben and his friends return to the birthday party.

Father sings a song for Rose. Ben is told that his father gave up being a singer to bring his family to America.

Ben and Annabelle dance and flirt.

Gusto and Ben get into a fight. Gusto calls him a “white boy” and a “coconut” (Gusto’s mother married a white man, Ben hangs out with white people) Ben’s dad breaks up fight and discovers Gusto’s gun. The grandfather blames the behavior on the Ben’s father

FOB – Fresh Off the Boat

Ben’s friends say after fight “Dude was about to go Cunanan” – Andrew Cunanan was a filipino American serial killer who murdered Giani Versace. (season 2 of American Crime Story)

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2788432/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_4

Ben and Annabelle kiss.

Ben paints a painting of himself, his father and his grandfather. He tells his dad he is going to CalArts and shows him the painting. Father is supportive after seeing his work.

The viewer is left with an optimistic feeling for Ben’s future.