diff --git a/local_config.py b/local_config.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..23e5369
--- /dev/null
+++ b/local_config.py
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+
+# NOTE: copy this file to the instance folder and fill in the appropriate values
+
+# https://flask.palletsprojects.com/en/1.1.x/config/#SECRET_KEY
+SECRET_KEY = b'\x00'
+
+# https://flask.palletsprojects.com/en/1.1.x/config/#DEBUG
+DEBUG = False
+
+# the absolute filesystem path to use as your video directory eg) '/var/videos'
+MOVIE_DIR = ''
+
+# create an account at tmdb and follow the instructions to find your key
+#   https://developers.themoviedb.org/3/getting-started/introduction
+TMDB_API_KEY = ''
+
+# location of your video files relative to your web server's root eg) '/video'
+VIDEO_URL_PREFIX = ''
+
diff --git a/video_metadata/__init__.py b/video_metadata/__init__.py
index af93c2f..6a41e43 100644
--- a/video_metadata/__init__.py
+++ b/video_metadata/__init__.py
@@ -1,19 +1,20 @@
 import json
 import os
+from pprint import pprint
 
 from flask import Flask, render_template
 
 
+class default_config(object):
+    def __init__(self, app):
+        self.DATABASE = os.path.join(app.instance_path, 'video_metadata.sqlite')
+        self.MOVIE_DIR = os.path.join(app.instance_path, 'movie_dir')
+        self.TEMPLATES_AUTO_RELOAD = True
+
+
 def create_app():
-    # create and configure the app
+    # create the app
     app = Flask(__name__, instance_relative_config=True)
-    app.config.from_mapping(
-        SECRET_KEY = 'dev',
-        DATABASE = os.path.join(app.instance_path, 'video_metadata.sqlite'),
-        MOVIE_DIR = os.path.join(app.instance_path, 'movie_dir'),
-        TMDB_API_KEY = parse_API_key(app, os.path.join(app.instance_path, 'API_KEY.json')),
-        TEMPLATES_AUTO_RELOAD = True,
-    )
 
     # ensure the instance folder exists
     try:
@@ -21,6 +22,13 @@ def create_app():
     except OSError:
         pass
 
+    # load default config
+    app.config.from_object(default_config(app))
+
+    # add local config changes
+    app.config.from_pyfile('local_config.py')
+    pprint(app.config)
+
     from . import db
     db.init_app(app)
 
@@ -38,15 +46,3 @@ def create_app():
 def index():
     return render_template('index.html')
 
-def parse_API_key(app, path):
-    try:
-        fd = open(path)
-    except OSError as e:
-        app.logger.error('error opening path: %s, %s', path, e.strerror)
-        return ''
-
-    j = json.load(fd)
-    fd.close()
-
-    return j['key']
-
diff --git a/video_metadata/templates/tmdb/list_movie_test.html.jinja b/video_metadata/templates/tmdb/list_movie_test.html.jinja
index 6bca59d..566d7cb 100644
--- a/video_metadata/templates/tmdb/list_movie_test.html.jinja
+++ b/video_metadata/templates/tmdb/list_movie_test.html.jinja
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 			<div class="search_result">
 				<h3><a href="{{ r.tmdb_link }}">{{ r.title }}</a></h3>
 				<ul>
-					<li>Relative Path: {{ r.rel_path }}</li>
+					<li><a href="{{ url_prefix }}{{ r.rel_path|urlencode }}">test link</a></li>
 					<li>Release Date: {{ r.release_date }}</li>
 					<li>Description:
 						<p>{{ r.overview }}</p>
diff --git a/video_metadata/views/tmdb.py b/video_metadata/views/tmdb.py
index d766d36..076200f 100644
--- a/video_metadata/views/tmdb.py
+++ b/video_metadata/views/tmdb.py
@@ -96,7 +96,10 @@ def list_movie_test():
         vr.rel_path = row['movie_path']
         view_results.append(vr)
 
-    return render_template('tmdb/list_movie_test.html.jinja', view_results = view_results)
+    return render_template('tmdb/list_movie_test.html.jinja',
+            view_results = view_results,
+            url_prefix = current_app.config['VIDEO_URL_PREFIX']
+        )
 
 @bp.route('/query_movie', methods=['GET', 'POST'])
 def query_movie():
@@ -156,9 +159,9 @@ def query_movie():
                 )
         )
 
+# TODO: add option for tv shows
 @bp.route('/create_mapping')
 def create_mapping():
-    # TODO: add option for tv shows
     movie_id = request.args.get('movie_id')
     rel_path = request.args.get('rel_path')
     errors = []