Lori Rubinstein s the executive director of the Behind the Scenes Foundation, a 501(c)3 charity serving entertainment technology professionals in the US and Canada with Basic Needs grants for serious illness or injury, Counseling grants for therapy or rehabilitation, Disaster Relief grants for small immediate needs, and extensive mental health tools and resources to support all entertainment industry workers and promote mental health and wellness.
The entertainment industry has experienced enormous changes. What tools and resources can support your mental health? Take the BTS Mental Health Survey today!
At LDI, she can be found in the Behind The Scenes Wellness Lounge, where she will present the session, Overview Of Mental Heath Resources.
Live Design: Can you describe yourself in less than 50 words?
Lori Rubinstein: Committed to helping entertainment technology professionals in need and creating culture change to make the industry a mentally and physically healthier place to work. Loves gardening, kayaking, and scuba diving.
LD: Please give a brief overview of your training/education/career path.
LR: Early in my career I worked as a stage manager and lighting designer for dance, symphony and musicals, and for a theatrical lighting company, a theatre consultant, and a manufacturer of entertainment products. I was the Executive Director of the Entertainment Services and Technology Association (ESTA) for almost 30 years where I oversaw the creation and development of the Technical Standards Program, the Entertainment Technician Certification Program, and Rental Guard among other initiatives. I have been the Executive Director of the Behind the Scenes Foundation since its inception in 2005
LD: Please describe your most recent project.
LR: Helping to develop the Behind the Scenes Mental Health Initiative which provides tools and resources that support entertainment industry workers to promote mental health and wellness.
LD: What are you teaching at LDI and who is your target audience?
LR: I am providing an overview of all the tools and resources available under our Mental Health Initiative so that people can identify which ones may be of use to them or those they care about.
LD: What has been the biggest challenge of your career to date?
LR: Implementing culture change in the entertainment industry - whether it's standards, certification or reducing the stigma around mental health.
LD: What is your advice for people just getting into the industry?
LR: Never underestimate the value of networking and building relationships.
Financial responsibility is really important - even at a young age. With a career in this industry, there will likely always be "rainy days" whether due to lack of work, injury, illness, pandemics or natural disasters and you need to be prepared for those.
Develop skills that are transferable to other parts of the entertainment industry or to other industries, and diversify your income to help protect against "rainy days."