diff --git a/oxdbarchive/extract.py b/oxdbarchive/extract.py
index 5739b07..85115da 100644
--- a/oxdbarchive/extract.py
+++ b/oxdbarchive/extract.py
@@ -141,7 +141,9 @@ def extract_frame(movie_file, timestamp, img_folder, width=128, offset = 0, redo
     mplayer_options = ''
     mplayer_options += " '%s'" % movie_file
     mplayer_options += " -ss '%s' -frames 2" % (timestamp_in_file)
-    mplayer_options += " -vo jpeg:quality=90 -vf scale -zoom -xy %d " % width
+    mplayer_options += " -vo jpeg:quality=90 "
+    if width > 0:
+      mplayer_options += " -vf scale -zoom -xy %d " % width
     mplayer_options += " -ao null"
     mplayer = "mplayer %s >/dev/null 2>&1" % mplayer_options
     frame = os.path.join(img_folder, "%s.%s" % (timestamp.replace(':', '.'), img_extension))
@@ -161,15 +163,46 @@ def extract_frame(movie_file, timestamp, img_folder, width=128, offset = 0, redo
     print "update the cache %s missing" % movie_file
   shutil.rmtree(framedir)
 
-def extract_still(movie_file, png_file, inpoint):
+def extract_still(movie_file, timestamp, img_folder, width=128, offset = 0, redo = False):
+  import warnings
+  warnings.filterwarnings("ignore", "tempnam")
   ext = movie_file.split('.')[-1]
   if ext in ('sub', 'srt'):
     print "this is not a movie file, will not try to extract frames"
     return
-  inpoint = time2ms(inpoint)
-  extractClipScript = abspath(join(dirname(__file__), "tools/extract_frame.py"))
-  cmd = '''%s "%s" "%s" %s 0 -1''' % (extractClipScript, movie_file, png_file, inpoint)
-  run_command(cmd.encode('utf-8'), 100)
+  framedir = os.tempnam()
+  
+  os.mkdir(framedir)
+  os.chdir(framedir)
+  if offset:
+    timestamp_in_file = shift_time(-offset, timestamp)
+  else:
+    timestamp_in_file = timestamp
+  if os.path.exists(movie_file):
+    mplayer_options = ''
+    mplayer_options += " '%s'" % movie_file
+    mplayer_options += " -ss '%s' -frames 2" % (timestamp_in_file)
+    mplayer_options += " -vo png "
+    if width > 0:
+      mplayer_options += " -vf scale -zoom -xy %d " % width
+    mplayer_options += " -ao null"
+    mplayer = "mplayer %s >/dev/null 2>&1" % mplayer_options
+    frame = os.path.join(img_folder, "%s.%s" % (timestamp.replace(':', '.'), 'png'))
+    if redo or not os.path.exists(frame):
+      print mplayer.encode('utf-8')
+      os.system (mplayer.encode('utf-8'))
+      files = os.listdir(framedir)
+      if files:
+        print "creating frame ", frame
+        shutil.move(os.path.join(framedir,files[-1]), frame)
+        if len(files)>1:
+          for f in files[:-2]:
+            print "unlink", f
+            os.unlink(f)
+    time.sleep(0.1)
+  else:
+    print "update the cache %s missing" % movie_file
+  shutil.rmtree(framedir)
 
 def extract_poster_still(movie_file, png_file, inpoint):
   ext = movie_file.split('.')[-1]
diff --git a/oxdbarchive/model.py b/oxdbarchive/model.py
index 18a1473..fd1fc5e 100644
--- a/oxdbarchive/model.py
+++ b/oxdbarchive/model.py
@@ -431,6 +431,11 @@ class ArchiveFile(SQLObject):
     f = join(cache.cache_root, 'frame', self.md5sum[:4], self.md5sum)
     oxdb_makedir(f)
     return f
+
+  def _get_stillFolder(self):
+    f = join(cache.cache_root, 'still', self.md5sum[:4], self.md5sum)
+    oxdb_makedir(f)
+    return f
   
   def _get_timelineFile(self):
     return join(cache.cache_root, 'timeline', self.md5sum[:4], "%s.png" % self.md5sum)
@@ -438,10 +443,6 @@ class ArchiveFile(SQLObject):
   def _get_posterStillFile(self):
     return join(cache.cache_root, 'posterStill', self.md5sum[:4], "%s.png" % self.md5sum)
 
-  def stillFile(self, position):
-    position = oxlib.getValidFilename(position)
-    return join(cache.cache_root, 'still', self.md5sum[:4], "%s_%s.png" % (self.md5sum, position))
-
   def removeMiniMovie(self): 
     if exists(self.mini_movie_file):
       os.remove(self.mini_movie_file)
@@ -740,13 +741,13 @@ class ArchiveFile(SQLObject):
     return cache.loadPosterStill(self, position)
 
   def still(self, position):
-    still = self.stillFile(position)
+    still = os.path.join(self.stillFolder, "%s.%s" % (position.replace(':', '.'), 'png'))
     if not exists(still):
       oxdb_makedir(dirname(still))
       movieFile = self.absolutePath
       if os.path.splitext(movieFile)[-1] in ('.mov', '.mpg', '.mpeg'):
         movieFile = self.mini_movie_file
-      extract_still(movieFile, still, position)
+      extract_still(movieFile, position, self.stillFolder, -1)
     if exists(still):
         return cache.loadFile(still)
     return ''