Colin Schumacher: NEWS

Welcome to the website.

Colin is the creator and presenter of Making Meaning OnScreen - professional development workshops in screen production, screen literacy and pedagogy. His workshop programs have trained over 1,800 K-12 teachers and screen directors in Australia, Thailand, Vietnam, The Maldives, Singapore, Japan and Portugal.
Colin is a writer, and director of theatre and screen production. His most recent Thai directing credits include the German opera Der Freischutz with the Metropolitan Opera of Bangkok, and Tribute at Madidol University in 2009.
Colin also coaches actors/presenters for news, current affairs, infotainment and drama broadcasting.
This News page was last updated in July 2010.

3. India - slum kids video project - 2010.
I am thrilled to be invited to present and superivise an innovative video project with slum kids in India this year. Working with a local NGO I look forward to the process and results of the screen documentaries we will shoot there. More soon. [back to top]

5. Screen Teachers Advisory Group
Teachers from Australia and Asian schools are feeding back to me their successes and challenges in teaching screen production and screen literacy. 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. [back to top]

7. Theatre directing workshops in Griffith - May 2010 .
I spent two days in Griffith hosted by the Griffith City Council presenting workshops in directing theatre. Specifically short plays for the annual KROP festival plus in-school theatre productions. One day with teachers from the Griffith district and the second day with primary and secondary school students. It was terrific. [back to top]

8. Create and Animate workshops for Sydney DET - April - May 2010 These have been really interesting teacher's PD workshops to prepare and present. Focussing on literacy these practical workshops explore script writing for screen with a final animation of the student's scripts. Initial 'Create and Animate' workshops were presented to 18 teachers from three Sydney metro primary schools. Followed up by in-school presentations to their students. Now we look forward to watching and assessing the student's animations. Will keep you posted. [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.New DVD: Making Meaning OnScreen: A How-To Video
A DVD that explains practical tools in framing, camera action, camera operation for you to use with your students. The DVD includes features includes 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 2010. [back to top]

11. Screen workshops in Thailand - July 2010. Some exciting develpments with presenting my Making Meaning OnScreen and Creating the Seamless Screen Story workshops at a univeristy in Bangkok shortly. Every effort is being made to return Bangkok to its earlier safety. [back to top]

14. Making Meaning OnScreen workshops go ONLINE
In September 2010, we will be hosting the first Making Meaning OnScreen workshops online. These workshops will be now be accessible to K-12 teacher located in regional and remote locations or for those can't leave their classrooms to attend the Sydney-based workshops. And for schools who can't afford temporary staff covers. Let me know if you would like to participate from the comfort of your computer terminal. All workshops are endorsed by the NSW Institute of Teachers. [back to top]

Making Meaning OnScreen A Student Handbook OUT NOW!
	Now available for sale for $60 (no GST) plus postage and handling - $20. 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: - 264 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!