Pinuri ng Fil-American film director na si Diane Paragas ang dalawang bida ng kanyang pelikulang Yellow Rose—sina Eva Noblezada at Lea Salonga.
Gumanap na magtiyahin ang dalawang “Kim” ng West End and Broadway musical na Miss Saigon sa Yellow Rose.
Ang pelikula ay tungkol sa isang 17-year-old Filipina na nangangarap maging sikat na country singer, kaso, undocumented immigrant siya.
Nag-premiere ang Yellow Rose noong August 3 sa New York bilang bahagi ng 42nd Asian American International Film Festival.
Bukod kina Eva at Lea, kasama sa cast ng pelikula sina Gustavo Gomez, Libby Villari, Felicia Reyes, Liam Booth, at Princess Punzalan.
LEA SALONGA AS GAIL
Sa interview ni Carolina Cao kay Diane na nailathala sa Slashfilm.com noong August 9, ikinuwento ng direktor kung paano niya napapayag si Lea na tanggapin ang role bilang Gail.
“We had sent the script to Lea’s manager. She really responded to it.
“She’s an incredibly supportive person, a superstar.
"She’s sold out at arenas, from London, Paris, everywhere.
“She’s also a big supporter of Filipino and Filipino American artists.
“She was there when Eva was in the revival of Miss Saigon.
"She’s a voice coach back in the Philippines.
"Helping Filipino artists is her thing and she liked the script.
“She was doing Once On This Island on Broadway when I met her.
"After one of her shows, she met me. We had a drink and talked with her manager.
"She said yes on the spot.
“A little backstory, I directed Lea before a long time ago in Manila, the capital of the Philippines.
"It was my first directing gig. She was hosting for the Discovery Channel.
“I was directing her hosting parts.
"When I met her for Yellow Rose, she said, ‘Oh my God, I totally remember you!’
"I couldn’t believe she remembered because it was so long ago."
BLOWN AWAY BY EVA NOBLEZADA
Si Eva Noblezada ay napanood ni Diane sa Miss Saigon at bumagay ito sa role bilang Rose.
Lahad niya sa Slashfilm.com, “We thought we had to do an international search like the original Miss Saigon production did for Lea Salonga.
"Then the Miss Saigon revival was announced with Eva Noblezada cast as the leading Kim.
“After the short, it took a couple more years to get financing for the feature.
"I saw Eva leading the Miss Saigon revival and was blown away.
"I met with Noblezada right after the show with her manager and offered her the part right away.
“When I saw her on stage, I looked to see if Noblezada could translate into film.
"The transition from theatre to film is not always a natural one. When you’re in theatre, you’re acting for the back of the room.
“What was extraordinary watching her on stage is that she’s a natural actress.
“She acts in a cinematical way. I sent the script to her beforehand, so when I met her, she accepted the role of Rose on the spot.
“We talked about her being a musician. She writes music and strums the guitar."
Humakot na ng ilang awards ang Yellow Rose.
Nanalo ito bilang Best Competitive Narrative sa Bentonville Film Fesival 2019; Best Narrative sa CAAMFest 2019; Best Narrative Feature and Best Breakthrough Performance (Eva Noblezada) sa VC FilmFest: Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival 2019.