Ah, Thanksgiving—that one day a year when you get together with family, eat lots of turkey, watch lots of football, pray the kids’ table doesn’t erupt in a food fight (again), and engage in awkward conversations about politics…
Yeah, we know. Thanksgiving isn’t always a great time for everyone, and sometimes even football isn’t a good enough getaway. So, here’s a thought to stuff into your patrons’ heads: If your library subscribes to Access Video On Demand streaming video, remind your patrons that they have access to a wide variety of giggle-worthy comedies, uplifting dramas, and cozy romances, all on a mobile-friendly platform that allows patrons to stream them anytime, anywhere—even over their phones with headphones on while Uncle Ned is yelling at Tom Brady in the den.
Here are some of the films your patrons will find that they can use as an escape. (Some of these titles contain mature themes or content; viewer discretion is advised.)
Take a Break from Thanksgiving with These Movies (and More!) You’ll Find on Access Video On Demand:
Turkey’s Done (2016; #204561)
Turkey’s Done is a comedic short film that highlights the big city/little town known as South Philly, where everyone knows your business! Dino Brocco returns home after a 10-year stint in prison, back to cruising the neighborhood in his beloved Cadillac. Peaches, his loving, loud-mouthed wife, starts to prepare dinner for their first Thanksgiving together in over a decade. As she begins to clean the house, a lipstick mark on a dirty shirt catches her eye, and all hell breaks loose! Featuring Cheri Oteri from Saturday Night Live.
The Year Dolly Parton Was My Mom (2011; #202784)
Elizabeth Alison Gray is just your average suburban eleven-year-old waiting for adolescence to arrive when she finds out her whole life has been a lie. With only her imagination to guide her, she runs away to find the truth.
The Lightkeepers (2009; #194925)
Seth Atkins (Academy Award Winner Richard Dreyfuss) is the light keeper on a deserted beach of Cape Cod in the year 1912. Seth’s assistant suddenly quits, no longer able to tolerate his bad attitude and hatred of women. He is left to manage the lighthouse on his own, until a mysterious, strapping young man washes up on shore. They swap tales from their past, and bond over their distaste for women. It’s not long before the two men must contend with the lovely Ruth Graham (Mamie Gummer) and her housekeeper, Mrs. Bascom (Golden Globe Nominee Blythe Danner), who move into a nearby cottage for the summer.
Two-Bit Waltz (2014; #142925)
In the wonderfully dysfunctional tradition of The Royal Tenenbaums, teenage years are always messy, but for Maude, things couldn’t seem more tragic. Within one week just before her 18th birthday, she is suspended from school, deserted by her best friend, and dumped by the boy she “loves”—plus Granny dies, leaving her an enormous amount of money under one condition: Maude must go to college, which she does not want to do, and her wildly eccentric family is no help at all. Of course…it’s a comedy!
Nothing to Do (2018; #187076)
What happens when you can’t stand the way your sibling does just about anything, but you’re forced to be with them during your father’s last days on Earth?
Gold (2014; #195798)
Ray returns to his hometown after a decade-long absence hoping to rekindle relations with his daughter, Abbie and his ex-wife, who’s now shacked up with Ray’s former P.E. teacher, Frank. With Frank playing the fatherly role as he coaches Abbie in her dream of being a cross-country running champion, Ray unwittingly throws everything out of whack and has even farther to go to redeem himself. Featuring Maisie Williams (Game of Thrones).
Gibsonburg (2013; #191913)
Gibsonburg is based on the true story of the only high school baseball team to win a state championship with a losing record. This magical coming-of-age film deals not only with baseball, but the trials, tribulations, romances, and mysteries that faced the teens along the way. Featuring Lili Reinhart from Riverdale.
The Illusionist (2006; #190148)
Set in early 20th-century Vienna, a stage magician (Edward Norton) uses his magic to win back the great love of his life (Jessica Biel) from a brutal enemy, her fiance (Rufus Sewell), who is also the powerful crowned prince of Austria.
What Is Access Video On Demand?
Access Video On Demand streaming video offers public libraries an expansive, patron-friendly collection of thousands of high-quality videos that complement and enhance your library’s content offerings. We bring your patrons exceptional content from around the world that they may never have had the opportunity to see: from Oscar®, Emmy®, and Peabody Award-winning documentaries, to how-to programs that make life easier and richer, top-quality performances spanning the arts, biographies of history-makers past and present, a variety of TV shows and movies, and more.
Try Access Video On Demand today!
See also:
- 13 Scary Movies to Petrify Your Patrons
- Holiday Movie Programming Ideas for Public Libraries
- Case Study: Video Streaming Service Meets Library Patrons’ Multiple Needs for Entertainment, Research, and More
- Webinar: Build Strong E-Content Foundations at the Public Library
- Turn Up the Heat with These Summer Films
- The Top 5 Films We Think You Should Watch During Pride Month
- Media Literacy Bingo: Game
About the Authors
Patrice Keville (she/her) has been Proofreader/Coordinator at Infobase for more than seven years. Previously, she was Online Editor at Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology News and an Assistant Editor at the H.W. Wilson Company, where she coedited the Senior High Core Collection and Public Library Core Collection: Nonfiction. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband, Matthew.
Sharon Golan is Director of Public Libraries & Video Content Licensing at Infobase. With over a decade of experience creating and licensing materials for the education market, she has a keen eye for high-quality, compelling content and enjoys working on films that employ this dynamic art form to educate and enrich audiences.
