A New Mexico assistant director fell into deep depression and took his life. Crew members rallied to help one another and charities pitched in during the writers strike that began May 2 and ended in late September, and the actors strike that started in July. "The actors and writers are getting a lot of publicity but the crews are the collateral damage of the strikes," said Lori Rubinstein, executive director of mental health charity Behind the Scenes. Crew members lost health insurance and broke into retirement funds. In Albuquerque, assistant director Anthony Pelot, 37, who worked on sets with Bufalino for 14 years, grieved the loss of his best friend.

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Persons: Mike Blake, Lori Rubinstein, Rubinstein, Pam Rosen, Joe Bufalino, Rosen, Jennifer Jorge, Jorge, MPTF, I'd, Sean, we've, Chris, Van Dunk, Gwen Roach, Roach, Anthony Pelot, Joe, Pelot, Andrew Hay, Donna Bryson, Sandra Maler Organizations: Writers Guild of America, Disney Studios, REUTERS, Rights, New, Reuters, Television Fund, Canada's AFC, Entertainment, Thomson Locations: Burbank , California, U.S, Rights ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico, Toronto, York, California, California , New York, Atlanta, New York, Albuquerque