David Mills - Sorry For Our Loss

Hello,

Just because I have a new blog, don't expect to read a lot from me. I make my living as a writer. TV. Film. Newspaper columns and features when they let me.

So, why should I give away my words for free?

I can't actually say that I will be. I have no idea where this will lead. But, on a blog, there's room to share a lot more than one can share on Facebook, Linked In, or Twitter. And yes, I have them all. But, hey, you're talking to a chick who used to make her own yogurt. So, you know I don't half-step on anything.

In addition to being a writer, I'm a communications professor. Journalism. TV writing. Film. Documentary production. I'm all about the medium and the message. So, I keep up to date with all things communications wise so that I can try to stay one step ahead of my students. "Try" being the operative word. Though I must admit that InDesign is kicking my butt.

Please forgive me if you think I'm starting off on a dark note. Of course I am dark. A black choctaw latina. So, I guess every time I start anything, it's on a dark note.

However, another reason I'm starting this blog today is because I wrote a short remembrance of former journalist and TV writer David Mills, a friend of mine who died this week on the set of his new HBO series "Treme." Friends who read it say that I should post what I wrote.

But before I get to that...Treme is about life in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.

And ironically, during the one time in which I was back east this year, the college students I met expressed very passionate emotions about the news coverage of Katrina. Students that were not even in that state, and yet were still emotionally outraged. Treme will be of great interest to them and perhaps make viewers who watch it feel the way that they and others still do.

Back to my remembrance of David, I originally sent it to David's Facebook site and some of my friends. One of Variety's top journalists, Brian Lowry published part of it on his blog today. My friend Donna wrote to say that I should repeat it at David's memorial.

Emotionally, I know I'd never be able to get through delivering it all verbally. But, for the students who I met, who will inevitably watch Treme when it airs in April, I wanted them to be able to read something about David from someone who he had helped and encouraged for many years.

But, at the same time, since, as I said, parts of it are in Brian's column, it would be rude to print them today, on the same day that his column runs. As a writer, I have great respect for other writers.

As to why my blog is called Possibly Go Wrong? Well, I wanted to name it Possibly Go Right. But, that was already taken. I simply didn't want to spend a lot of time thinking about a name. And Possibly Go Wrong turned out to be available. Who knew.

In any case, I have a project due on Friday. So, I have to get back to that.

If you go to variety.com/bltv, you can read what Brian has to say and a bit of what I had to say. And if that piques your interest, come back and you'll be able to see the rest.

Speaking of rest, R.I.P. David Mills. You will not soon, or ever, be forgotten.

Skye Dent

P.S. If you look me up on Facebook, I'm the chick standing in front of the car wearing black sweat pants with a Japanese design. Not one of the other three Skye Dents. My production company web site at www.theroxburyprojects.com.