Quick Start Grants - Individuals

Goal 1: Complete a half hour documentary film by June 1, 2017, Standing Alone, and to show it in the Duluth Superior Film Festival and the Fond du Lac Film Festival to reach at least 200 adults and 50 children viewing the film in person. I will also add the film link to my artist portfolio website at www.novaskylark.com for further audience participation and engagement. Goal 2: Increase my skills in making films by learning from mentors to script, record interviews and imagery, and to edit a half-hour documentary film. Goal 3: Create a film biography of Anishinaabe Elder, Jim Merhar, to show to people in general, and to show Anishinaabe people a role model of personal resilience in the face of adversity; and a musician who maintained his Anishinaabe cultural connection throughout his life. This goal is also tied to building diverse community relationships through positive art messaging in film projects. Goal 1: I will measure this goal by my completion date, showing at Duluth Superior Film Festival and Fond du Lac Festival, and a count of adults and youth attending screenings. Placement of film link on artist portfolio website. Goal 2: I will get letters from project mentors regarding what skills were increased by the applicant in scripting, videography, and editing by the end of grant and personal reflection submitted in writing. Goal 3: I will have evaluation questions on cards that will be given to festival attendees about the film content telling the story of Jim Merhar's life, Standing Alone. I will record on video the comments of audience members regarding the film content, and I will record discussion with Anishinaabe viewers on perception of content. I will record comments of Jim Merhar and Anishinaabe youth on the film and responses he received from the audience Q and A time. I will write a final report summarizing the results of the evaluation question cards, comments recorded, and Anishinaabe comments.