Gail Rubin speaking, photo by Pete Vidal.

Funny films can help break the ice about serious subjects – medical care, end-of-life issues, estate planning, and funeral planning. Certified Thanatologist Gail Rubin is a death educator who brings a light touch to serious subjects with humor and clips from movies and television shows that help audiences learn and remember important lessons.

Her presentations qualify for continuing education credits for medical professionals, hospice and social workers, attorneys, financial planners, funeral directors and other professionals who need CEUs. Look for the seal of continuing education credit approval from the Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice.

Gail Rubin, The Doyenne of Death®, offers a number of film presentations in 60- to 90-minute sessions and longer workshops. DOWNLOAD A LIST OF TALKS HERE.

Check out these program descriptions:

Laughing in the Face of Death: Funny Films for Funeral Planning

This upbeat talk illustrates funeral planning issues with clips from comedy films and television programs. Just as talking about sex won’t make you pregnant, talking about funerals won’t make you dead – and your family will benefit from the conversation.

Lessons on Grief and Mourning in Cartoons

Animated movies designed for children can also address the grief of adults. This presentation incorporates clips from popular cartoon films that illustrate and instruct about mourning losses. From the death of loved ones to significant life changes, we can learn about resiliency and the rebirth of joy by watching characters address their challenges. This session provides a framework for understanding grief and coping strategies gleaned from thanatology, the study of death, dying and bereavement, and ways to effectively use animated film clips in aftercare programs.

The Birds and the Bees of Mortality (a.k.a. Estate Planning, Hollywood Style)

The way the movies portray it, wills are supposed to cover funeral plans in addition to the distribution of assets. Unfortunately, family members may die before doing any estate planning. Even with a will, plans can go awry. This presentation can provide continuing education credits for estate attorneys and financial planning professionals. After attending this session, participants will be able to:

• Identify how the Terror Management Theory and mortality salience impacts estate planning.
• Minimize end-of-life planning resistance with humor and funny films.
• Prevent identity theft of the deceased’s information.
• Utilize information provided to create their own film clip presentations.

Ashes to Ashes, Dust in Your Face: Cremation, Comedy and Creativity

Cremation is the fastest growing disposition method in the U.S. Watching funny and serious film clips, you’ll learn about what you need to know before there’s a death in the family, including choices to make and disposition options.

The Funeral Director on Film

Watching scenes from comedies and dramas focused on funeral directors throughout history, learn important consumer tips for funeral planning. With humorous insights, presenter Gail Rubin traces the evolution of the funeral industry from the 1800s to today through Hollywood portrayals of “the last man to let you down.” It’s a great presentation for consumer education as well as funeral director continuing education credits.

Jewish Funeral Traditions on Film

Jewish traditions regarding death and dying, the funeral, the treatment of the body, burial, mourning, and annual remembrances are very different from Christian practices. This talk illuminates the differences and similarities of these funeral traditions – highly beneficial for interfaith families. Jewish attitudes toward cremation, burial, tattoos, suicide, and other issues can be addressed. Christian audiences will find the information fascinating as it relates to the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Jewish burial is naturally green burial, and the environmental aspects of cremation and burial are also discussed.

The Many Faces of Grief

Grief and mourning takes people on a journey with twists and turns. It’s a process that takes on many faces. Using clips from Hollywood films to illustrate and lighten the conversation, attendees will learn about different grieving styles, length of mourning, disenfranchised grief and other elements of thanatology, the study of death, dying and bereavement. This presentation can serve as a continuing education presentation for hospice and social workers, funeral directors and psychologists. Presenter Gail Rubin is Certified in Thanatology: Death, Dying and Bereavement through the Association for Death Education and Counseling.

To book Gail Rubin for any of these presentations, contact her at 505.265.7215 or email Gail [at] AGoodGoodbye.com.