Talk:David De Silva

Edits by Onikk 20/3/17
Regarding good faith edits by User:Onikk, I would like to explain my rationale for some reverts to avoid going backwards and forwards:

You changed "American film producer" to "film writer/producer" - The lead section is intended to give an introduction and summary to users who aren't familiar with the subject. These readers may not be from the United States, so this basic information is important.

You changed "1980 MGM movie" to "1980 classic MGM movie" - It's a fact that it's an MGM film, it's not a fact that it's a classic. Lots of people think it is, but that is a subjective term. Wikipedia articles should try to be objective and not state things that could be a matter of opinion. Usually we try not to use "peacock terms" and let the readers make up their own mind about things like that.

You added the text: "which premiered at the Coconut Grove Playhouse in Miami in 1988. The Musical has been translated into almost every major language and is produced around the world which has led to De Silva being referred to" - The lead section is intended to summarize the subject of the article for readers who might be unfamiliar with the topic. Information about which exact theatre one of his plays opened in is already covered in the main body of the article and is not necessary for the lead section. See WP:LEAD for more information about introductions to articles. The last paragraph of the article contains details about how many countries the play has been performed in. If you can provide a reliable source, information about languages should go with it.

You changed the text to read: "such actors as Jerry Orbach, of Promises, Promises (Tony Award) and Inga Swenson (Tony Award) 110 In The Shade." - we don't need to mention what these actors were in, and especially not what awards they won, because this article is about David De Silva, and not these actors, so all the information here should be about him. If readers want to read more about those actors' careers they can follow the links.

You added this text: "As a native New Yorker studying to be a high school teacher at Queens College De Silva was aware of the High School of Performing Arts on 46th St in Manhattan. Students from all five Boroughs could audition in singing, dancing, music and acting for a place at this special school. He recognized that creating a musical movie with students who come from different ethnicities and rich and poor was organically a good idea." - the tone of this paragraph is not really appropriate for wikipedia. It reads like an advert, which is not appropriate, and it is about a subject other than David de Silva. Again, if readers want to read about this school they can follow the link. More importantly, this passage is not sourced, which is a key requirement of wikipedia, and the information which it replaced is sourced.

You added this text: "Mr Gore asked him if he would help him find an agent which he did introducing him to Helen Harvey at the Wm Morris Agency." - It is not clear how this fact relates to the rest of the text, and it is also unsourced.

You added this text: "as well as the structure of the script taking the characters from the audition process through Freshman, Sophmore, Junior, Senior Years and Graduation from the the High School of Performing Arts on 46th St." - I would say the structure of the script is the same thing as the plot, but I have tried to find a compromise with better wording.

I hope this explanation helps. Above all, please remember that all additions to wikipedia need to be reliably sourced. Jdcooper (talk) 11:16, 21 March 2017 (UTC)

David De Silva
I am David De Silva and I would like to dispute some of the information in this article. I was interviewed by Michael A Hoey in August 2008 by phone for his book, Inside FAME on Television- A Behind the Scenes History. He has not correctly told the story of my involvement in the making of FAME the movie. I am the principal creator and producer of FAME. My interest in the High School of Performing Arts had nothing to do with seeing Chorus Line or the song, "Nothing." As a native New Yorker studying to be a High School teacher I was aware of the magnet school the High School of Performing Arts on 46th St. As much as I liked "Chorus Line" it was never the inspiration for FAME The Movie. In 1977 I was an agent for the Ashley-Famous Agency and represented Inga Swenson and John Cullum. I put them in a production in Fort Lauderdale, FL of "Mary, Queen of Scots" written by Chris Gore. I traveled to Ft Lauderdale to see them in the play where I met Gore. He asked me if I could help him get an agent in New York which I did at the Wm Morris. Agency. I paid Gore to work with me and develop a script based on research I had done with teachers at the High School of Performing Arts. When MGM became interested in the film they gave me a list of ten directors they would approve to do the project. I had just seen "Midnight Express" and chose Alan Parker to direct it. Parker wanted to work on the screenplay with Gore. I agreed they could do that but that Gore would get the sole screen credit. Alan Marshall was a co-producer. Having retained the stage rights for FAME I later met with Dean Pitchford in Hollywood and proposed that he work with  me on the stage play, Fame The Musical. He declined the offer as he wanted to stay in Los Angeles to work on a project (Footloose). Fatherfame (talk) 21:05, 8 May 2017 (UTC)


 * Ok, I've rephrased the text to reflect your comments. Is it ok now? Even if you dispute what Alan Parker said, the conflicting stories themselves are usually included to give the reader more information. It would help us to have a reliable source explaining your account of the story. It might sound daft, but all information on wikipedia needs third-party sources to ensure it is verifiable. Jdcooper (talk) 10:14, 9 May 2017 (UTC)