The donations come from people who bought the European version of the ETC iRFR or aRFR remote control app for their phone or tablet over the past year, all of whom had the choice of whether their money went to the US charity, or its UK branch, which until recently was called Light Relief.
Handing over a cheque to John Simpson, trustee of Behind the Scenes UK, ETC's CEO Fred Foster said, "Lighting can be easy to control using the ETC iRFR for iOS and aRFR for Android, but sometimes life can be more difficult. That's why we're pleased to continue to support the Behind the Scenes charity, which provides much needed support to our colleagues and their families when times are hard."
The apps - which turn any smartphone into a remote lighting controller - can be downloaded from the iTunes store or Google Play Store. Since the introduction of the apps, around $200,000 (over £120,000) has been donated to help industry professionals struggling with injuries or illnesses.
Behind the Scenes will provide financial assistance to entertainment technology professionals, or their immediate family, who are seriously ill or injured. Grants may be used for basic living costs, some medical related expenses, transportation, retraining or funerals.
(Jim Evans)
