Films on Demand Database Offers Wide Variety of Films for Streaming
If you are still kicking up your heels over the additions of the Alexander Street Press streaming video databases (see previous posts of June 5th), you will flip your bonnet with the addition of the Films on Demand video streaming database. Comprised of over 5,000+ entries from films under the Films Media Group umbrella, Films on Demand has a wealth of material for all the performing arts.
Entries are broken down into short segments, perfect for showing to a class during a lecture. Available also is the option to view an entire documentary outside of class, either on or off campus. And unlike the Alexander Street Press video products that have a 3 simultaneous user limit, FOD has unlimited simultaneous access. Yee ha!
Because the database search screens can be a little confusing – and the subject categories of dance and theater, for some reason, do not appear on the left side navigation link – I have created a quick guide to searching for films in the database. You can access it by clicking the linking here: “Films on Demand Database Quick Guide.” It was also emailed to Dance, Music, and Theatre Arts library reps for distribution to faculty.
You can register for a free FOD account which will allow you to create playlists of film scenes for student access or select favorites to come back and view later. Durable URL’s allow for use in Blackboard coursework, and you can even email the link for a film to another TU community member for collaborative work. Git along, pardner!
My faves from tooling around in the database:
- Bill T. Jones: Still/Here – dance performances so moving, they will make you cry
- America: Broadway and Dramatic Realism – fascinating study of the 20’s and 30’s dramatic art
- The Piano: The King of Instruments – my interest should be self-explanatory
There are many clips in the database for use with a wide variety of performing arts research topics. On a final note, I am at a loss to explain why I appear to be channeling Seven Brides for Seven Brothers today, but it must have been something I saw while experimenting with FOD!
