About Amazon Studios

Getting Started

Help Topics

Notices and Agreements

How do I upload my video content?

To submit video content to an existing project, go to the project page. If you are the project owner, click the appropriate button to add new work to your project.

If you want to add video content to another Amazon Studios participant's project, you will need to request their permission by clicking the appropriate button (such as "Add a trailer") on their project page.

For information on the rights related to video content that you upload, see the Development Agreement. You must be signed in to add video content.

How do I upload my video in the right format?

It is important to create your video using the right compression method, which will turn your large video into a more manageable form. Our systems accept files created using the MPEG-2, MPEG-4 and H.264 video compression methods. Creating your content using the right compression method varies depending on the video-editing program you are using (iMovie, Final Cut Express, Sony Vegas, etc.). Most editors give you an option to "Save" (and/or "Save As") and a separate option to "Publish", "Export", "Share", "Create Movie", "Create Video File" or "Send to Compressor". When uploading to Amazon Studios, choose the option to create/share/export/publish your work. (If you just "save", you're saving every unedited element of your work together into a bundle that will not upload to Amazon Studios successfully.)

When you create your video content, most video-editing programs ask you to choose the kind of file you want to create by asking how you plan to use the work (viewing on a DVD, use on a computer, use in an email, etc.). The important thing is that it creates your video using the MPEG-2, MPEG-4 or H.264 (also known as AVC) compression methods. MPEG-4 and H.264 are actually the same and are better than MPEG-2 because your file will be about 80% smaller so it will take less time to upload. If your editor asks you what purpose you are using it for, somewhere it should also indicate the format it is going to use when it outputs. Pay attention to the format and pick H.264, MPEG-4, AVC or, as a last resort, MPEG-2. If you have multiple good options, select the highest quality one. HD is fine. In this screen from iMovie 08, you can see in the upper right box that the compression method will be H.264:

Please note that the compression method is not the same as the file extension. A movie encoded in MPEG-4 may appear as .mp4 (Sony), .mov (iMovie) or some other file extension. The file extension doesn't really matter. The key is to select a file type that says it is using AVC, MPEG-4 or H.264 (or, failing those, MPEG-2).

We cannot accept DivX or WMV files and, unfortunately, the latest version of Windows Live Movie Maker only outputs in WMV. If you are using Windows Live Movie Maker, our best suggestion is that you install the old version of Windows Movie Maker, version 2.6, which allows people to save in DV-AVI. In Movie Maker 2.6, you should be able to open your project and publish in the DV-AVI format. Then you can use an encoder, such as Freemake Video Converter (which is free) or the GOM Encoder (paid), to get the file into .mp4 format. That will successfully upload and get into the Amazon Studios system.

The following are our recommended output formats for a few specific video editors:

Corel Video Studio Choose MPEG-4 HD or iPhone H.264 640x480
Final Cut Pro Choose H.264
Final Cut Pro Express Export using QuickTime conversion. Export as QuickTime movie.
iMovie Share: Export movie: pick large size (and HD if HD). Or Share: Export using QuickTime: QuickTime movie
Sony Vegas Pro Choose Main Concept AVC/AAC
Troubleshooting your video upload

The Amazon Studios Uploader is designed to make submitting video or audio content as convenient as possible.

If you’re having trouble uploading your video, we suggest you try the following steps in order.

  1. Make sure the latest version of Java is installed and enabled in your web browser.
  2. After installing or upgrading Java, quit and restart your browser and try uploading again.
  3. If your upload is still unsuccessful, repeat steps 1 and 2 using a different web browser (for example, if you use Safari, try Firefox or Chrome).
  4. If that doesn’t work, and you have access to another computer running a different operating system, try uploading from there (for example, if you use a Mac, try a PC).
Taking the above steps should solve most problems; however, if you get stuck, please contact Customer Service.
Do I have the proper permissions for what is written in my script or heard or seen in my video content?

We're looking for projects that can be produced, and in order to do that, you must have all rights to the story, dialogue, characters and all other elements of your scripts and video content.

You can license clips, music and photographs to include in your video content without obtaining all rights to them as long as you obtain rights broad enough to permit use in revisions of your work and distribution of your work (and any revisions of it) by any form of distribution. See the Development Agreement for the detailed rights you give us in your script or video content. It's your responsibility to ensure that your rights in your script or video permit you to give us those rights.

One way to ensure that you have all rights to your script or video content is to upload content that is 100% new and original to you. You should also get releases from all actors that appear in your video or provide voiceovers, and from anyone else that helped you create your work.

I want music and/or sound effects in my video content: How can I get some legally?

Amazon Studios provides a free Music Library and Sound Effects Library containing thousands of tracks that you may use in the production of video content uploaded to the site. Please note that you may not use these libraries for any other work, or a project uploaded to a different site.

You may also use original music, created by you or someone you ask to help you. By original, we mean truly new music that is not a remix or a cover and that does not sample other music. If someone creates original music for your work, you should have them sign a music release. (For example, see the "Test movie music release form" below.) This also applies to sound effects.

You also can license music and sound effects from companies, but you will need to get a written license agreement and ensure that you obtain rights broad enough to permit all of the uses described above. We have provided some links to music and sound licensors that may have appropriate music on the Getting Started page.

I want to make video content that contains photographs or other images: How can I get some legally?

You can use photographs that you take yourself or that you ask someone to take for you. You can also use your own drawings and other images you make. However, if someone takes a photograph or creates a drawing or other image for you, you should have them sign a release. (For example, see the "Photo/footage release form" below.) Altering a photograph or image with a program such as Photoshop, for example, does not necessarily alter the underlying rights to that image.

You also can license photographs and stock footage from companies, but you will need to get a written license agreement and ensure that you obtain rights broad enough to permit use in revisions of your content and distribution of your content (and any revisions of it) by any form of distribution. We have provided some links to licensors that may have appropriate photographs and images on the Getting Started page.

Can I use works in the public domain?
Public domain works are those that are available for use by members of the public. We don't prohibit you from using public domain works but we discourage you from doing so and you'd have to make sure that the work is in the public domain in every country around the world. Public domain laws vary around the world and can be tricky. For instance, you might think you are in the clear because you are adapting a very old work, but you may be using a modern translation that is copyrighted. Bottom line: Except in the most obvious cases, like Shakespeare, we discourage adaptations of works you think are in the public domain. This same notion applies to music, photos or other images. The work may be very old, but it's not necessarily free of rights issues.
Samples of the types of releases and notices that you may want to use

We provide these releases and notices for information purposes only. These may not work for your purposes and they don't necessarily work in all jurisdictions. It is still your responsibility to ensure that you have all rights to the elements that you contribute in your scripts and video content. See the Development Agreement for the detailed rights you give us in your script or work.