If you are a filmmaker, documentary videographer, TV show producer, or even a webisode creator... we call you a "producer".  We want your content, especially your locally focused shows.  We also want to help you by providing you whatever resources you need to make the best quality production possible. 

We have our own community goals to achieve but we feel that the best way for us to accomplish those is to help you accomplish yours.

So if you have a project in the can or one rolling around in your head we encourage you to take a look at what resources we can provide, what our guidelines are, and the toolbox we can offer you to help build/grow your fan base. Then... let's collaborate.

When you watch TV, how can you tell that something was made locally? What is it about a program that gives it a certain local-yokel factor that causes you to turn up your nose and change the channel? Breaking Bad is produced locally (if you live in New Mexico like we do.) Does it look local?  Why not?  In our world of cheap digital technology, good production is no longer limited to those with big budgets.

What Breaking Bad does have is a great story, phenomenal actors, and a production crew with organizational skills. These are things that are within anyone's reach. With uPUBLIC to help you close the gap on the other things like cameras, production facilities, and project mentorship, you're running out of excuses to not be making something amazing.

Don't fall into the trap of thinking that you have to move to LA to make it. Or that you can't do anything until you have that big studio budget for the script you finally wrote on your gold-plated Macbook Pro while you were sipping syrup-flavored espresso in a Beverly Hills coffee joint. Do it now!

So tell us about your project (film, documentary, webisode series, or whatever).  Oh, and for those of you who already have something to show, we take digital files only. Quicktime movs are best. Widescreen format. HD... and we like doughnuts.

For your video to look best for us, consider these guidelines:

CODEC
H.264
A codec is the format in which your video will be encoded. Different codecs have different features and varying quality. For best results, we recommend using H.264 (sometimes referred to as MP4).

FRAME RATE
24, 25, or 30 FPS
If you know at which frame rate you shot, it is best to encode at that same frame rate. However, if it exceeds 30 FPS (frames per second), you should encode your video at half that frame rate. For example, if you shot 60 FPS, you should encode at 30 FPS. If you're uncertain what frame rate you shot at, set it to either "Current" or 30 FPS. If there is an option for keyframes, use the same value you used for frame rate.
 
DATA RATE
5000 kbps (HD)
This setting controls both the visual quality of the video and the file size. In most video editors, this is done in terms of kilobits per second (kbps). Use 5000 kbps for high definition video.
 
RESOLUTION
1280x720 (HD)
1280x720 or 1920x1080 for HD. If you have the option to control the pixel aspect ratio (not the display aspect ratio) make sure it's set to "1:1" or "1.00", sometimes referred to as "square pixels."

DEINTERLACING
If you are shooting on an older camera, enable this option. Otherwise, you may get weird-looking horizontal lines in your video. With newer camera models this won't matter, so you can leave this option unchecked.
 

We look forward to hearing from you. 

Ask Disney, Paramount, Universal and Warner what sells.  The numbers don't lie and based on two studies, family-friendly shows are 11 times more profitable at the box office than their Rated R big brothers.  While we don't use the MPAA ratings, we do think that there is a take away lesson in these numbers.

Our goal is to build fans. So, since we want to garner as many viewers as possible, we believe in content standards that appeal to the widest base as possible.  We think that this is what is best for our distribution properties. We also think that this is what potential sponsors are more likely to attach themselves to, and that this is what is best for producers who want to build an audience for their shows.

THE CHALLENGES OF STANDARDS
There is no hard and fast list that can sufficiently communicate standards.  For example, violence in the context of war is expected; whereas, the same violence in a different context may be less appropriate or even offensive. So even on the single topic of violence there are many factors to consider.

We also understand that everyone perceives standards differently based on their values and life experiences.  Our goal with our standards is not to impose one group’s values upon another; it is to find common ground and to determine what the general audience largely considers to be acceptable.  This may mean that those searching for a G-rated show may feel like one of our programs contains unnecessary content. Conversely, others may feel that our standards are more limiting than they need to be.  Again, the standards goal is to find common ground that the largest group can be comfortable with and will participate in.

uPUBLIC's rating service makes the final decision on what is within standards and what is not, using the market acceptance philosophy outlined above.  Additionally, we use the following guidelines.

GUIDELINES
No Foul Language
No Nudity
No Sexual Acts
No Ethnically Prejudicial Language
No Violence against Women or Children
and No Offensive Topics

FAVORED THEMES
Additionally, another mission of uPUBLIC is to promote positive elements in our community.  While we do not require that shows contain the following themes we do actively seek out shows that do.

Positive message 
Locally relevant
True and factual
Funny and entertaining
People & groups deserving of recognition
Beautiful and artistic
Excellence in achievements
Thought provoking
Imaginative and innovative
Morally challenging themes

LIMITATIONS
What types of shows and topics are these standards and guidelines designed to inhibit?None.  Standards and Guidelines do not filter any show or producer. They do, however, put some limitations on how concepts are executed.  Our goal is to create as successful a platform for all types of content as possible; not to infringe on the artistic process.  We believe that guidelines and standards are what allow viewers, producers and sponsors to interact at the highest level possible and that that interaction is what is best for our producer community.  If the market has proven that family-friendly shows and films draw the biggest audiences, then it makes the most sense to us to emulate these guidelines as we work toward our goals.

The internet is a big place. There isn't a true formula for producing a smash viral video. We can only say that success with internet video often results from a confounding mixture of effort, timing, and chance. While some people worry about identity theft and online security, most of us struggle just to get our videos seen. And how do you even promote a product? uPUBLIC can help you, your videos, and your product thrive with a model that both utilizes and bypasses the internet.

It's a simple exchange: We want your content to air on our partners TV and cable stations as well as on the web and other platforms. That is a built-in audience of millions of potential viewers. In conjunction with airing your content, we can help devise a marketing strategy that will grow your fanbase and attract like-minded sponsors to your project.  We are always pulling in local charities and organizations to interactive projects so what you produce can help a community cause as well.

Want to know more? Get in touch with us and let's talk.

Shooting a video, huh? Wow, that's a lot of stuff to think about. You gonna do it by yourself? Cuz you don't have to. Check out the awesomeness on display here and imagine what you could do with it.

The Junk in Our Trunk (Production Equipment): Give your iPhone a rest and use one of our Panasonic AF-100s instead.  You won't have to worry about syncing sound or poor sound quality with our professional mics.  

Wanna do a live show? Our TriCaster live editing system makes it easier than writing that letter to Grandma you've been putting off.  

Lights make it so your camera can see what you're shooting and we have those, too. 

O Brother, Where Shoot Thou? (Production Space): Good thing we got that soundstage to keep all our cool stuff in. There's space here to shoot a large scene or just hide from your angry, neglected Grandma. Shoot on green or white screen backdrop, use the studio lights and sound. Production office space is available as well as space for edit bays. 

Mad Props, Yo (The Prophouse): From the films and film gypsies that have come before you, there's a whole warehouse full of wardrobe, props, and... stuff. It's right here in Albuquerque, all this stuff! And everyone knows that your production value goes up when you use Stuff™. 

Feeding the Lawyers (Insurance): Who's got your liabilities covered for that climactic scene you're shooting with the gun-toting rabid bear, blasting through the fireworks factory? Team up with us as Executive Producers and you can be covered by our production insurance. (Bears, guns and explosives subject to review.)

We have even more to offer so let us know what gaps we can fill to help you shoot a better... whatever you are shooting.

LICENSE TO OTHER USERS: You further grant all users of uPUBLIC permission to view your videos for their personal, non-commercial purposes. This includes the right to copy and make derivative works from the videos solely to the extent necessary to view the videos. The foregoing licenses are in addition to any license you may decide to grant (e.g., a Creative Commons license).

DURATION OF LICENSES: The above licenses will continue unless and until you notify uPUBLIC in writing, in which case the licenses will terminate within a commercially reasonable period of time. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the license for legal archival/preservation purposes will continue indefinitely. Please note that removed videos may be cached in search engine indices after removal and that uPUBLIC has no control over such caching.