Openfilm » Help & Info

Openfilm is the place for "user-generated films" – original, high quality videos and animation with high production values and artistic merit, from shorts and web series to feature-length films.

The site showcases a fast-growing collection of high quality short films and animations displayed in high resolution from an ever-growing list of contributing individual filmmakers and organizations. Openfilm provides a venue for users to watch premium video content, as well as for filmmakers to exhibit their works, and to enjoy a full-featured, social networking forum between viewers and creators.

We concentrate more on quality of films than quantity. We strive to make sure that every title you find on our site is worth watching. Whether you are in the mood for new series, a great short film or animation, Openfilm is your destination.

The website is completely free so there is nothing to hold you back from discovering a new film or a web series you might just fall in love with. For a more detailed overview of the website, please visit the Quick Tour section.

2. What can I expect from Openfilm?

Viewers' benefits:

Only original user videos and animation with high production values
High definition large video player displaying resolutions from 640x360 and 700 kbps to full-blown HD at 1280x720 and 1500 kbps
Prescreening, selection and custom encoding all submissions to preserve the highest possible quality
Content from film festivals and film schools from around the world
Convenient features of Viewing History and Quicklist
All standard video sharing features including Favorites and Playlists, star ratings and comments, and many others
Custom-made optional subtitles in English and Spanish
Multiple sharing tools
Conference style video and channel commenting

Creators' benefits:

Custom conversion for better quality
Accepting all video formats
No limits in file size or runtime
Production photos
Custom thumbnails for each video
Cast & Crew information
Photo gallery for each video and each channel
Custom designed flash banners, logos and pictures
User-friendly dashboard menu
Upcoming film festivals information
50/50 revenue sharing
Limited amount of selected content will enable the best producers' works to stand out

3. Why should I register on Openfilm?

Registration on Openfilm will let you create your own Channel, upload videos and photos, interact with others by commenting and rating videos and channels, subscribe to your favorite creators, send and receive messages from other users, create your video collections - playlists, quick list, favorites, and many other things which help you explore and have fun with Openfilm.

4. Does Openfilm produce its own content?

Yes, we do. At our production facilities, in Greenwich Studios, we produce a variety of web shows (known as "Openfilm Originals") which are published alongside user content. All of our shows can be viewed by going to the Videos section and selecting Openfilm Originals in the Categories menu.

5. Is Openfilm free?

Yes, just like making an account. You can Get your free profile now

6. How do I make money on Openfilm?

Every content contributor is eligible to make money on Openfilm. Once your video is accompanied by advertisements Openfilm will split revenue with you 50/50. You can find more detailed info about our revenue sharing program in our Member Agreement.

Submitting Content

1. How do I begin posting my video?

In order to post your original video, you must submit it for review. To submit your video, please login, click SUBMIT in the main menu, choose the file and fill in all the required fields.

2. What types of videos can I post?

You can submit any of your original works. We encourage shows as they tend to develop audience and encourage professional social networking. Feel free to submit any type of work for review.

3. What file formats does Openfilm accept?

We accept all commonly used video formats including.avi, .mpg, .mpeg, .mov, .wmv. If you have a file format which you believe our system does not accept, you can write us at review@openfilm.com or simply mail us your DVD.

4. What is the file size limit?

There is none. You can submit videos of any size or runtime. You can upload files up to 2 GB through the standard upload form. If you wish to submit files larger than 2 GB, email us at review@openfilm.com to make a request or simply mail us a DVD. You can also request a private FTP access to upload your videos on the site.

5. I only have my video on DVD. What can I do?

You can mail it to us to the following address.

Openfilm, LLC

Content Review Department

12100 NE 16th Avenue suite 102

Miami, FL 33161

All mail-in DVDs should be accompanied by a sheet (or contain a text file on the disc) with your username, email and all the information that would be filled out for a video in the standard upload form:

Title
Type (Video/Animation)
Categories (up to 3 from our categories in the Videos section)
Description
Tags

6. What is the recommended format and encoding to achieve the best quality on your site?

Use the highest-quality version of your video and make sure the file is in a "standard" format with appropriate settings. We use the term "standard" to refer to formats most commonly installed on Mac & PC systems. While we can accept many different ones, here are three we recommend, along with suggested settings:

File Type	Compression Type	Settings
Quicktime Movie (.mov)	H.264	Frames per second	30 (or native fps of your video)
	H.264	Quality	Best (100)
	DV/DVCPRO (NTSC /PAL)	Frames per second	30 (or native fps of your video)
		Quality	Best (100)
		Scan Mode	Progressive
		Aspect Ratio	Whichever applies to your video
Video for Windows (.avi)	Microsoft DV	n/a
	DivX Community Codec	Rate Control Mode	Multipass, first pass
	DivX Community Codec	Bitrate	700kbps
Windows Media (.wmv)	Video Codec : WMV 9 Audio Codec: WMA 9	Videos
		Bitrate Mode	Constant
		Frame Rate	30 (or native fps of your video)
		Pixel Aspect Ratio	Square Pixels
		Maximum Bitrate	800kbps
		Image Quality	100
		Audio
		Bitrate Settings	Constant
		Audio Settings	128kbps, 48kHz, Stereo

You can read more details about our file formats, aspect ratio, resolution and bitrate on

http://www.openfilm.com/corporate/uploading/

7. Is there maximum number of videos I can post?

No. We do not limit your creativity or ability to produce or submit. The more you submit, the higher the earning potential!

8. What is the difference between a video and a show?

As you may have noticed, our site features something called "shows". Shows are channels which have been "promoted" and given special designation because they feature videos which are part of a series (common theme/characters/continuous story). You can watch episodes of a show consecutively in the video player.

9. How can I get my videos classified as a show?

You can write us at review@openfilm.com to request your videos to be classified as show. We suggest creating separate accounts for your different shows. By the way, you can make multiple accounts using the same email address.

Content Selection and Processing

1. Do you prescreen all submissions?

Openfilm welcomes all submissions, but screens each video for technical quality, production quality, and potential violations of our Terms of Use, before publishing the video to the site.

2. How do you determine that a video is good enough for Openfilm?

1. We check that your submission has appropriately high picture and sound quality.

2. We determine how complete and substantial the submission is. Cool short films, web episodes, reports, art and music videos will usually be approved. A 10-second clip of an exploding statue of a squirrel set to a popular song and shot in poor focus will probably be rejected.

3. When will my videos be available on Openfilm?

We strive to screen videos as fast as possible, but due to overwhelming amount of submissions it can be as long as 24 hours before your video is published. If you don’t see your video within 24 hours and have not received a response from us, please write us to review@openfilm.com.

4. Will Openfilm alter my video or description information?

No. We believe in freedom of self expression, but if we suspect you made a mistake in your submission, we will notify you with our proposed changes which you can accept or decline.

5. What does "custom conversion" mean?

We provide this feature for videos that have some visual or audio defects. Our team can perform sophisticated corrections to fix quality problems. In some cases, we can also do tasteful censoring of mature content. All of this is ONLY done with the consent of the author.

6. Can I object if my video has been rejected?

Yes. Please send your concerns to review@openfilm.com.

7. How can I make sure my videos don't get removed?

Do not violate our Member Agreement and Copyright Notices . It’s mostly common sense, but you can review the Member Agreement and Copyright Policy again.

Searching

1. How do I search for videos on Openfilm?

Use the search bar in the top right hand corner. When you click on the drop-down menu, you can choose to search for videos or channels. You may press Enter or click on the magnifying glass to start your search.

2. How do I search for channels on Openfilm?

There are three ways to do it. First, you can choose "Search Channels" option in the search bar. You can also refer to the More Channels section on a typical video playback or a typical channel page. And, finally, you can sort creators by the type on the Shows and Channels pages and choose the best ones.

3. How do I refine my search results?

When results are displayed you have many filtering options on the left to find exactly what you looking for. You can narrow results by Runtime, Type, Genres or Subtitles as well as sort them by Most Popular, Top Rated, Most Recent, etc. You can also switch between Detail View and Quick View, as well as between videos and channels without starting a new search.

Video Playback

1. What information can I find on a typical video playback page?

The video playback page provides you with user profile details, cast and crew information and detailed video description. You can also find custom production photos, More Videos and More Channels sections and manage selected videos. And the most significant part of the page is our large video player with plenty of cool features, described below.

2. What settings can I change in the video player menu?

You can change video size from player menu. You have two options available: big and bigger (640x360 and 920x518 for videos with 16:9 aspect ratio, and 640:480 and 690x518 for videos with 4:3 aspect ratio). Please, note that changing resolution may be disabled for certain videos. Also, you can change background color (4 colors available) and apply it to the particular video or to all videos. The player also has From This User, Related Videos and Editor's Picks menus inside for a convenient browsing.

3. How can I share Openfilm videos?

We provide you with an embed code to post our player with your favorite video elsewhere on the Internet. You can also share any video quickly through 12 common social networking platforms or e-mail it to your friend, using the player menu.

4. Where can I find video related information?

The player menu provides you with a brief description of the current video. You can also find more information about the video in the section "About this video" below the player, including Cast & Crew, Statistics and Description.

5. What is "Hi-res" button for?

"Hi-Res" activates high resolution mode for videos in HD and 1500 bitrate. Combine it with full-screen displaying and enjoy superior video quality!

6. Do all videos have subtitles?

We are working on transcribing ALL user videos to make them more accessible. Subtitles in English and Spanish are already available on many uploaded videos. Some videos also have subtitles that translate the audio from its native language. You can activate subtitles and choose English or Spanish simply by clicking the "Sub" button.

7. What can I do with my favorite videos?

You can rate videos (5 star rating), add them to the Playlist or Favorites, comment on the video playback page. You can also reply to the comments of other users on your video playback page or channel, just by clicking on the "reply" button.

Dashboard

1. What options can I get from the Dashboard?

Our dashboard allows you to control your profile, check your Inbox or compose messages, edit or change your channel info, upload your user picture and photos, check your subscribers and subscriptions, viewing history, video views and channel average rank statistics, manage your favorites, quicklist and playlists. Using the section My videos, you can easily check if the video you submitted has been accepted and published or is still awaiting approval. You can also edit video info or a thumbnail, and upload new videos.

2. Why should I specify my account type?

This way you help users to find your videos easier and faster. "Standard" is the default option, but we recommend you choose another type (Animator, Comedian, Director, Musician, Film Festival or Film School), according to the nature of the videos, you plan to submit.

3. How do Favorites and Playlists work?

When you see a video you like and want to recommend it to others, you can add it to a list of Favorites. This list is displayed in your profile for public view. You can also add videos to your Playlist. The Playlist is similar to favorites except that no one but you can see it unless you indicate it as a public playlist.

4. What is Quicklist?

Quicklist is a kind of Playlist you can easily add videos to by clicking on the bottom right corner of any video. This is a great way to mark a bunch of videos you don't have time to watch for viewing at a later time. You can manage your Quicklist in the Dashboard.

5. How do I create and edit my descriptions?

You can easily update your profile and change your channel description, by selecting the "Channel info" section in the Dashboard.

6. How can I remove my own video?

You can remove your content anytime going to the My Videos section in the Dashboard, and selecting Published Videos. Click "Edit" next to the video and then click "Remove". You can also send a removal request to us by writing to remove@openfilm.com.

7. How can I delete my account?

My Account section of your Dashboard allows you to delete your account. After clicking on Delete Account you will need to confirm your password and specify the reason for deleting your account.

Community

1. What is the Upcoming and Past Film Festivals section designed for?

We strive to keep you aware of what's going on in the independent film industry and provide you with the most recent events coverage. If you are a creator, you can gain valuable information and schedule your production to participate in festivals.

2. How can I communicate with content providers?

Communication tools are located below each video on the Video Playback and Channel page. Every content provider has a profile. Using the communication tools, you can send a personal message, subscribe or participate in Comments & Questions. The content provider can respond to you privately or post answers next to your comment or question. Or you can also send message to any member of the Openfilm community from your Dashboard.

3. What are these cool stick figure characters on your informational pages?

These little guys are small sculptures created by an Australian artist and photographer named Jenny Rollo.

Copyright and Licensing

4. Do I retain the copyright and other legal rights to my videos?

Yes, we do not ask for exclusive rights. All we need from you is a limited license to display your content. You can find more detailed information in our Member Agreement.

5. Can I post my video if it's already licensed for distribution elsewhere?

Yes, as long as it doesn't violate any agreements with other distributors.

6. How does copyright work?

If we find or are notified that you post videos that contain someone else's copyrighted material we will remove it. Your account/profile is also subject to suspension or deletion in cases of multiple copyright violations.

7. What if I have been falsely accused of copyright infringement?

Please email us at review@openfilm.com.

8. What if I have a question that was not covered here?

Please email us at info@openfilm.com.