Colin Schumacher: NEWS

Welcome to the website.

Colin is the creator and presenter of Making Meaning OnScreen - professional development workshops in screen production, literacy and pedagogy. His workshops programs have trainedover 1,500 K-12 teachers and screen directors in Australia, Thailand, Vietnam,The Maldives, Singapore and Portugal.
Colin is a writer, and director of theatre and screen production. His most recent Reality:Dreams produced in Bangokok in 2006.
Colin also coaches on-air presenters in screen performance for news, current affairs infotainment and drama broadcasting.

Making Meaning OnScreen A Student Handbook OUT NOW!
	Now available for sale for $60 (no GST) plus postage and handling - $15. From Making Meaning OnScreen Pty Ltd. ABN: 4011 397 5045
	To order a copy or copies please complete and return by email the order form. An invoice will be sent to you within 24 hours and books shipped to you immediately on receipt of the cheque payment.

Making Meaning OnScreen – A Student Handbook contains: - 270 pages of the screen industry steps in story creation, pre-production, production and post-production: - Over 200 illustrations, tables and diagrams explaining each process - Detailed screen stories modelled to demonstrate for student’s easy understanding and application - Classroom exercises - Visual language exercises - Practical camera and framing exercises - A gallery of pre-drawn single and 2 shot characters for students to easily apply to their storyboards - Screen Industry language and terminology explained - Exercises in positioning the screen audience and exploring visual grammar - Rehearsal and recording language explained - An easily-referenced glossary - Assessment tasks
Copies can be collected from the Making Meaning OnScreen Pty Ltd office at:
64 Telopea St. East Redfern N.S.W. 2016	Click here to Order Now!

1. 2007 'Making Meaning OnScreen' Sydney workshop dates:
Here they are: Feb 21-22; Mar 28-29;May 23-24; Aug 8-9;Sep 19-20; Nov 21-22.
Plus one-day advanced workshop: Creating the Seamless Screen Story dates are Feb 23; Mar 30; May 25; Aug 10; Sep 21; Nov 23.
Regional workshops around New South Wales TBA, plus Thailand and China TBA.
Click on these links for Workshop information [PDF 24KB], application forms [PDF 11KB] and testimonials [PDF 65KB]. Please forward to interested teachers and colleagues.

2. UNESCO Screen Literacy Paper from Portugal Conference
My paper on Screen Literacy in the Australian Classroom presented to the UNESCO World Creative Arts Conference in Portugal last year will be on my website next month. If you would like a copy now, please email me for one. [back to top]

3. New DVD: Making Meaning OnScreen: A How-To Video
I am currently shooting and editing a DVD that explains practical tools in framing, camera action, camera operation for you to use with your students. Shot with three of my graduate actors, two of whom are touring with Brainstorm productions, the DVD with include many features including over 30 narrative shots that you can download to your computer and use as editing exercises for your students to solve shooting/editing problems and create their own narrative meaning.
Available in a couple of months. [back to top]

4. Making Meaning OnScreen textbook
Apologies for the delay. All illustrations are now being formatted to 16 x 9 to reflect current shooting and broadcast practices, plus 2006/2007 updates.
The cover is in the hands of the graphic artist. Publication date TBA. [back to top]

5. Screen Teachers Advisory Group
I have developed a Screen Teachers Advisory Group with graduated teachers from the Making Meaning OnScreen workshops now implementing this courseware into their schools. Consisting of teachers from Australia and Asian gov and non-gov, and metro and non-metro schools they are feeding back to me their successes and challenges.
As a result of this feedback, I have begun shooting a DVD of screen production resources which screens practical tips and demonstrations and explanation of Making Meaning OnScreen workshop content for teachers and students. Other initiatives are being discussed and if you would like to participate in this Advisory Group please let me know. I will include you in my data base for updated information.
Please let me know of your experiences of teaching screen literacy and production with you students including your successes and challenges faced with implementing the Making Meaning OnScreen classroom material and with teaching video generally.
Your feedback will be invaluable. [back to top]

6. Need to brush up your video editing skills?
Many teachers have mentioned to me that they would value a brush-up on their editing skills. If you are interested, please let me know and I will create a workshop specifically for editing skills with a day and TBA. [back to top]

7. Directing Princess Sukhumabinan’s birthday performance.
My Thai mentor and producer for 18 years Princess Sukhumabinan of Thailand turns 84yrs this December. The Chinese calendar (7x12= 84) is most auspicious, and I will direct celebrations for her party.
It promises to be a huge event with my production Reality:Dreams that I directed in Bangkok last August, to be adapted for the party. Production stills of Reality:Dreams will be uploaded to my website shortly. [back to top]

8. Winner of the 2006 Sydney Cultural Council’s Performing Arts Challenge Screen Competition is Gavin Owen a student from Epping Boys High with his short 6.50 mins film - "The Life of Davo". Winning the inaugural Screen Competition, Gavin won a video camera, camera case and additional battery.
For 2007 application forms and competition information go to http://www.culturalcouncil.org.au. More prizes are on offer for 2007. Applications need to be entered by March with video projects submitted in June. [back to top]

9. Pinnacle Customer Support Phone Number.
If you are experiencing challenges with your Pinnacle software, a useful customer service phone contact is 02 8307 3811. You dial a Sydney number at local call costs, and you will be diverted to a customer service agent probably in California. They have been very helpful. [back to top]

10. Camera Discounts and Advice
Stuart Midgely in the video camera department at Harvey Norman - Moore Park can offer you expert advice on current video camera specials. He has a wealth of knowledge and doesn’t try to push a specific brand. Mention my name when you contact him, so he knows you are a teacher. He has been offering some of the cheapest deals on cameras and equipment to myself and other teachers in Sydney metro.
Mobile: 0418862121 Email: hnelectricsmp@optusnet.com.au [back to top]

11. Pinnacle Studio 10 editing softwarehas been launched with some problems for users. The Studio 10 software requires more space to run on your computer which many school computers don’t have. It is advised to continue with Studio 9 software. [back to top]

12. FREE IMAX Screenings for Teachers
Teachers are invited to IMAX for free screenings of their latest films Contact Julie Brown at IMAX: jbrown@imax.com.au [back to top]

13. ARTS HUB - Arts jobs, arts news, arts community
Over 10,000 individuals and 200 organisations nationwide rely on Arts Hub to stay informed about the latest arts jobs, arts news and more. Why not join those in the know and become a member for one low-cost annual fee! Join now at www.artshub.com.au [back to top]

14. www.TeachingEnglish.com.au
The website that thinks like an English Teacher. With over 500 downloadable study guides, lesson plans and resources from leading publishers, distributors, news, professional learning opportunities and more. [back to top]

15. Advertising in the Federation journal ‘Education’.
Look out for the Making Meaning OnScreen workshop in the Teachers Federation publication – Education. [back to top]