Web Comedy — the Way Nature Intended
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Uploading Videos with Maximum Quality
Legal Tips
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System Requirements
Flash Player:
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Operating Systems:
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Videos Not Playing
If you're experiencing trouble watching content, you may have an outdated Flash Player on your computer. We recommend you get the latest version of Flash Player 9.0+ - it's a free download from Adobe.
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*After following any of the troubleshooting tips above, please clear your browser's cache!
Free Membership
Atom's website (along with all members) will now offer social network functionality from MTVN’s FLUX system. By setting up an account, you will now belong to a network that allows you to share, access, and upload your media – all within one large social network.
What is FLUX?
FLUX is a networking platform that allows you to customize your profile page, reach out to fans and upload your content. FLUX is a great tool for communicating your voice among the Atom community.
What do Atom members get?
- Access to our entire video library in glorious, DVD-quality full-screen.
- Free FLUX account
- Upload videos
- Create user commentary
How do I sign up?
-Click on "Sign Up" on upper navigation bar or click here
-Fill out your information for a Free Membership and click "Sign Up".
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-Choose "Account"
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Privacy Options
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-Choose "Account"
-In the left menu, choose "Privacy"
-Here you can adjust your profile and age privacy settings
Upload Videos
We support the following file types for upload:
-Video: .3gp, .avi, .flv, .mov, .mp4, .mpeg, .mpg, .wmv
-Audio: .mp3, .wav, .wma, QCELP, AMR-NB
-File must be under 100 MB
Uploading Videos with Maximum Quality
Create the highest quality file that fits within the 100MB size limit. If you upload a highly compressed video, there is little quality left for the second encode.
Atom converts everything that is uploaded to Flash video at 480 x 360.
Use any application or encoder that exports to .mp4 with H.264 video.
Export your master (the best file you have of your video) to MPEG-4 with:
- H.264 video
- 480x360 video size (deinterlaced /one field)
- Audio uncompressed or AAC with at least 128 Kbit/sec
- 30 (29.97) Frames per second (fps)
- 4:3 aspect ratio (letterbox if necessary)
- Best Encoding Quality (mulitpass/2 pass if possible)
Legal Tips
If you are making a short video or animation, and plan on releasing it commercially, there are a number of legal issues you should consider. Here is some helpful information that will make the process easier. This information is not exhaustive and certainly does not cover all of the situations that may arise in connection with any particular film. Rather than guess about how to handle a particular problem, or what to do if the information below doesn't quite seem to fit, you should consult an attorney.
Don’t let the paperwork scare you off – this is not as hard as it sounds. And, if you don’t know whether you got everything you need while producing your film, feel free to submit it anyway. If we would like to sign your film, we will let you know what you need to provide us in order to clear it for online broadcast and distribution.
DISCLAIMER:All information herein and the resources given below are offered as a courtesy and for illustrative purposes. You may or may not use them at your discretion. Atom Entertainment is in no way making any legal representations about the type or content of releases that you as an individual filmmaker should have for your project nor does Atom Entertainment make any representation about the sufficiency of the forms that may be supplied through any of the resources listed below. The filmmaker remains fully responsible and obligated to obtain all necessary releases, licenses, and agreements, and the fact that Atom Entertainment has provided this information in no way shifts that responsibility to Atom Entertainment. All filmmakers are encouraged to seek their own legal counsel for advice on all clearance matters.
Copyright
One of the most important things you can do is register your film for copyright protection.
You can get information about applying for US copyright protection and download the necessary forms here: http://www.copyright.gov
Keep in mind a copyright application may take a few months to process. Make sure you keep a few copies of your application for your records.
Releases / Licenses
All releases should be acquired before or during the production of your film – it’s much easier to get all of the permissions you need at the beginning of a production rather than afterwards when everyone has moved on their way.
Below are some examples of common releases you will need to secure in order to distribute your film. Keep in mind that every film is different and might require additional releases that are not listed below.
Materials Release
Just as you would like to enjoy all of the benefits of copyright protection for your work, other creators feel the same way.
If you would like to include certain materials in your film such as such as paintings, photographs, art objects, articles, book covers, magazines, newspapers, and even items of décor such as wallpaper, images (either still or moving), logos, trademarks or other audio / visual representations (and the list could go on for pages) you need permission from the copyright owner (not the owner of the object) to do so.
Each such item included in your film should have a corresponding materials release that gives you permission to incorporate that object into your film and exploit your film in any way.
Location Release
A location release from the owner of the property grants permission for you to enter the property and film on the property. Every location you use in your film should have a corresponding written location release.
Actors Release / Appearance Release
If you are working with actors or voice over artists (in the case of animation or narration) on your film, you need to get their consent in writing in order to distribute your film commercially.
Typically these releases should give you the right to record someone’s likeness, name and/or voice (including, without limitation, speaking, singing and/or musical performance); to edit at your discretion; to incorporate the recordings into your film, and to use or authorize the use of their likeness, name, and voice in connection with the production, exhibition and exploitation of the film, in all media, throughout the universe in perpetuity and in connection with advertising, publicizing and promotion of the film.
Writers Release
If someone other than you worked on the script for your film, you need consent from that writer to base your film on their material or an agreement with that writer which gives you ownership of the material they’ve written.
Music Rights
Music can help bring your video to life. Can you imagine "Garden State" without The Shins? Well, if you also can’t image your opening scene without The Shins, think again. Unless you are related to the band, you’re probably not going to get permission to use it. The good news is that you probably already knew that and found someone else to do your music. Below are examples of some of the most common music agreements that might be necessary to distribute your film.
Composer Agreement
Master Use / Synchronization License
Music Cue Sheets
Resources
There are numerous resources out there that will give you more information. Below are a few examples of where to look:
Forms:
http://www.filmtvcontracts.com/
http://www.perfectlylegalforms.com/
http://www.findlegalforms.com/forms/entertainment-contracts-and-forms/
http://forms.lawguru.com/entertainment-contracts-and-forms_c.html
http://www.musiccontracts.com/?gclid=CKep8p66mpMCFQKaFQodg3nu3g
Music Information:
http://www.signature-sound.com/
http://www.themusicbridge.com/id38.htm
http://www.ascap.com
http://www.bmi.com
Books:
"Clearance & Copyright: Everything the Independent Filmmaker Needs to Know" by Michael C. Donald
"Getting Permission: How to License and Clear Copyrighted Materials Online & Off" by Richard Stim
"Contracts for the Film and Television Industry" by Mark Litwack
We offer a bunch of powerful ways to share your favorite films. On every individual film page, you'll find the following sharing tools:
Film URL
Copy the URL link from the clip's player page and paste it into an email on your IM.
Share Video
To email a video link to your friends, click the video's title to go to its landing page. Beneath the player window, you'll see an area containing the film's URL. Copy and paste that URL into an email or IM (those buttons reside below the URL area).
iTunes Podcast
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RSS Feeds
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Mature Videos
There are videos on Atom that aren't appropriate for everyone. These videos are labeled as "Mature" across the site, and they are intended for adult audiences only. We use the rating system created by the Internet Content Rating Association.
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