By P.L. Stiles
For the Salisbury Post

Staying safe during this pandemic presents a unique challenge to our lives, our businesses, and our social world. The word “pivot” is used a lot to talk about the need to change direction from how we used to do things to how we must do things now in order to be safe. NC Live’s Films on Demand film database offers hundreds of movies, documentaries, and DIY series to help you pivot — explore new skills, inspire new creations, or movies to entertain — right from the comfort of your couch. Whether picking up a skill you have always wanted to learn such as oil painting, or tips on renovating your house, Films on Demand offers a treasure trove that can take you from dreaming to Do-It-Yourself success.

So, pop some popcorn and settle in for a midday matinee. Here are some of the titles and series to check out:

For the muse — check out “Simply Painting,” a 12-part series from Frank Clarke, Ireland’s most popular artists, who covers painting with watercolors with topics on impressionists, “D-Day Landing,” and “Sailboats at Sunset” and many more. How-to titles include “Painting with Oils,” “Painting from Sketches,” and “Painting with Pastels.” “Making Masterpieces” is another series that offers videos on such topics as “Perspectives on Line and Form,” pigments, brushstrokes with the Painter’s Studio Art Workshop. An afternoon at this matinee will have you making your own masterpieces before you know it.

For the renovator — “Woodworking: The Art and Craft” series offers 15 short videos on topics from basics such as measuring to sanding, to creating fancy dovetail joints. A similar series, “The American Workshop” offers 13 titles that will take woodworking to new heights. “Residential Energy Efficiency Projects” series offers videos from installing a solar electrical system to upgrading a forced air furnace. “Residential Electrical Rewiring” series offers video shorts on wiring methods and grounding to wiring appliances and light fixtures. Finally, plumbing shorts will take you from “Inside the Plumber’s toolbox” all the way to “Installing a Solar Hot Water System.” You might even learn a new trade at this matinee.

For the cook — settle in for a joyous nostalgic afternoon with “Julia and Jacques Cooking at Home” series offering ways to prepare and dress up home cooking with elegant touches. Jamie Oliver’s “Jamie’s 15-Minute Meals” offers 40 episodes exploring new fresh ways to use herbs, fresh vegetables and all kinds of different meats. “Lydia’s Family Table” offers shorts on making your own pasta, and “Baking with Julia” series covers DIY breads, muffins, scones, and more at this delicious matinee.

For the film buff — check out science fiction classics like the “Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” series, cult classics like “A Boy and His Dog” and “A Clockwork Orange,” and A&E’s “The Universe” series offering the super cool documentary “Time Travel.” From the “Film and its Era” collection, you can find Sofia Coppola’s film “Lost in Translation” or Pedro Almodovar’s “All About My Mother” on tap, as well as a host of other foreign and domestic films.

Whatever your interest or need, Films on Demand offers a treasure trove for creating your own midday matinee. Grab a drink, your RPL library card and pin, and let the pivoting begin!

Paulette L. Stiles is adult services librarian at the Rowan Public Library.