Artist Initiative

Project Details by Fiscal Year
2016 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$10,000
Fund Source
Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund
Recipient
Mohammad G. Rahman AKA Aswar Rahman
Recipient Type
Individual
Status
Completed
Start Date
March 2016
End Date
February 2017
Activity Type
Grants/Contracts
Counties Affected
Anoka
Hennepin
Ramsey
Anoka
Hennepin
Ramsey
Project Overview
Artist Initiative
Project Details
Rahman will produce “Soiree,” a feature-length film that satirizes the stratified social history of Minnesota by way of a Jazz Age murder mystery. A Minneapolis screening is planned for early 2017.
Competitive Grant Making Body
Board Members and Qualifications
Ardell Brede: Mayor of Rochester, elected 2002.; Peggy Burnet: Businesswoman, art collector, and community volunteer. Chair of the Nominating Committee, Smithsonian National Board. Trustee, Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden. Vice Chair, Minnesota State Arts Board.; Michael Charron: Dean of the School of the Arts, Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota. Chair, Minnesota State Arts Board.; Rebecca Davis-Lee: Touring pianist, piano and music theory teacher; Sean Dowse, Executive director, Sheldon Theatre. Board member for Minnesota Music Coalition, Minnesota Citizens for the Arts, and Anderson Center for Interdisciplinary Studies, Treasurer, Minnesota State Arts Board.; David Glenn: Executive director of the Minnesota Project, ceramic artist; Thomas Moss: Consultant to nonprofits and government agencies; Janice Sivertson: Gallery owner and visual artist; Dobson West: Senior advisor, Spell Capital Partners Fund
Advisory Group Members and Qualifications
Kimble Bromley: Professor of art at North Dakota State University; nationally and internationally exhibited artist; Nathaniel Burbeck: Visual artist and painter; Patricia Canelake: Artist; Sarah Erickson: Director of the art department and assistant professor, College of St. Scholastica; Katelyn Johnson: Professional artist; Sarah Johnson: Director, Groveland Gallery
Conflict of Interest Disclosed
No
Legal Citation / Subdivision
Laws of Minnesota 2015 Special Session, chapter 2, article 4, section 2, subdivision 3
Appropriation Language

ACHF Arts Access

2016 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$10,000
Other Funds Leveraged
$5,818
Direct expenses
$15,818
Proposed Measurable Outcome(s)

A finished film in excess of 70 minutes. A finished film must have a logically sound plot, uniform and un-distracting audio and video quality, convincing acting, professional art direction, and a consistent, purposeful directorial style throughout the film. 2: The finished film is made accessible to audiences throughout the Twin Cities. The film must be shown for at least seven consecutive days at no less than three movie theaters in the Twin Cities and the surrounding suburbs.

Measurable Outcome(s)

A film of high quality in excess of 70 minutes was made. Though much of this is subjective, here are the criteria used to conclude the success of this project: Plot logic - there were no glaring flaws in the structure of the story. Certain incongruities exist, but nothing to delegitimize the script or push the audience member out of the world of the narrative; Audio uniformity - the film's decibel levels are fairly constant, with most dialogue coming from the -6db to -12db range; and Acting and Style - Recognized by audience to be strong. 2: The film was shown over six nights at one theater as the centerpiece of a film festival. The number of theaters proposed was three, but ultimately became one, as this was found to be best suited for marketing efforts. Seven days were converted to six, to better suit theater rental terms.

Description of Funds
Source of Additional Funds

Other, local or private

Project Manager
First Name
Mohammad
Last Name
Rahman
Organization Name
Mohammad G. Rahman AKA Aswar Rahman
State
MN
Phone
(612) 229-4533
Email
aswar314@gmail.com
Administered By
Administered by
Location

Griggs Midway Building, Suite 304,
540 Fairview Avenue North,
St. Paul, MN 55104

Phone
(651) 539-2650 or toll-free (800) 866-2787
Email the Agency