             videoElementProperties = BitFlagUtil.update(videoElementProperties as uint, 
                                                         MAINTAIN_ASPECT_RATIO_PROPERTY_FLAG, true);
         }
-        else
+        else if (videoElementProperties)
+        {
             videoElementProperties.maintainAspectRatio = value;
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            videoElementProperties = {maintainAspectRatio: value};
+        }
     }
     
     //----------------------------------

        // set the fullScreen variable back to false and remove this event listener
        fullScreen = false;
        stage.removeEventListener(FullScreenEvent.FULL_SCREEN, fullScreenEventHandler);
        
        // remove the event listeners to hide the controls
        systemManager.removeEventListener(MouseEvent.MOUSE_DOWN, resetFullScreenHideControlTimer);

        {
            videoElement.volume = value;
            videoElementProperties = BitFlagUtil.update(videoElementProperties as uint, 
                                                        VOLUME_PROPERTY_FLAG, true);
        }
        else if (videoElementProperties)
        {
            videoElementProperties.volume = value;
        }
        else
        {
            videoElementProperties = {volume: value};
        }
    }
    
    //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
