diff --git a/backend/db.js b/backend/db.js
index 0efa0d2..41b5cb2 100644
--- a/backend/db.js
+++ b/backend/db.js
@@ -95,6 +95,24 @@ db.exec(`
   );
 
   CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS idx_board_channel_links_board ON board_channel_links(board_id);
+
+  CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS media_jobs (
+    id TEXT PRIMARY KEY,
+    image_id TEXT NOT NULL REFERENCES images(id) ON DELETE CASCADE,
+    board_id TEXT NOT NULL,
+    type TEXT NOT NULL DEFAULT 'poster',
+    status TEXT NOT NULL DEFAULT 'queued',
+    progress REAL DEFAULT 0,
+    error TEXT,
+    attempts INTEGER NOT NULL DEFAULT 0,
+    result_json TEXT,
+    created_at TEXT NOT NULL DEFAULT (datetime('now')),
+    started_at TEXT,
+    finished_at TEXT
+  );
+
+  CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS idx_media_jobs_status ON media_jobs(status);
+  CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS idx_media_jobs_image ON media_jobs(image_id);
 `);
 
 // Migrations — add columns to existing tables
@@ -123,6 +141,22 @@ try {
 } catch {
   db.exec("ALTER TABLE images ADD COLUMN mm_file_id TEXT");
 }
+try {
+  db.prepare("SELECT poster_asset_key FROM images LIMIT 0").get();
+} catch {
+  db.exec("ALTER TABLE images ADD COLUMN poster_asset_key TEXT");
+}
+try {
+  db.prepare("SELECT duration FROM images LIMIT 0").get();
+} catch {
+  db.exec("ALTER TABLE images ADD COLUMN duration REAL");
+}
+try {
+  db.prepare("SELECT native_width FROM images LIMIT 0").get();
+} catch {
+  db.exec("ALTER TABLE images ADD COLUMN native_width INTEGER");
+  db.exec("ALTER TABLE images ADD COLUMN native_height INTEGER");
+}
 
 // ---------------------
 // User helpers
@@ -406,6 +440,46 @@ function getImageByMmFileId(boardId, mmFileId) {
   return db.prepare('SELECT * FROM images WHERE board_id = ? AND mm_file_id = ?').get(boardId, mmFileId);
 }
 
+// ---------------------
+// Media Jobs
+// ---------------------
+function createMediaJob({ id, imageId, boardId, type }) {
+  db.prepare(`
+    INSERT INTO media_jobs (id, image_id, board_id, type, status)
+    VALUES (?, ?, ?, ?, 'queued')
+  `).run(id, imageId, boardId, type || 'poster');
+  return db.prepare('SELECT * FROM media_jobs WHERE id = ?').get(id);
+}
+
+function updateMediaJob(id, updates) {
+  const sets = [];
+  const values = [];
+  for (const [key, val] of Object.entries(updates)) {
+    const col = key.replace(/([A-Z])/g, '_$1').toLowerCase(); // camelCase → snake_case
+    sets.push(`${col} = ?`);
+    values.push(val);
+  }
+  if (sets.length === 0) return;
+  values.push(id);
+  db.prepare(`UPDATE media_jobs SET ${sets.join(', ')} WHERE id = ?`).run(...values);
+}
+
+function getMediaJob(id) {
+  return db.prepare('SELECT * FROM media_jobs WHERE id = ?').get(id);
+}
+
+function getPendingMediaJobs(limit = 10) {
+  return db.prepare('SELECT * FROM media_jobs WHERE status IN (?, ?) ORDER BY created_at ASC LIMIT ?')
+    .all('queued', 'retry', limit);
+}
+
+function updateImageMedia(imageId, { posterAssetKey, duration, nativeWidth, nativeHeight }) {
+  db.prepare(`
+    UPDATE images SET poster_asset_key = ?, duration = ?, native_width = ?, native_height = ?
+    WHERE id = ?
+  `).run(posterAssetKey || null, duration || null, nativeWidth || null, nativeHeight || null, imageId);
+}
+
 module.exports = {
   db,
   // Users
@@ -423,4 +497,6 @@ module.exports = {
   // Board–Channel Links
   createBoardChannelLink, getBoardChannelLinks, getBoardChannelLink, deleteBoardChannelLink,
   getAllBoardChannelLinks, getImageByMmFileId,
+  // Media Jobs
+  createMediaJob, updateMediaJob, getMediaJob, getPendingMediaJobs, updateImageMedia,
 };
diff --git a/backend/routes/boards.js b/backend/routes/boards.js
index 60cc43a..f2b5ce5 100644
--- a/backend/routes/boards.js
+++ b/backend/routes/boards.js
@@ -120,10 +120,33 @@ router.get('/:boardId', (req, res) => {
 
     const images = getBoardImages(board.id);
 
+    // Hydrate video objects with poster/dimensions from DB
+    // (worker may have finished after canvas was last saved)
+    let canvasState = board.canvas_state ? JSON.parse(board.canvas_state) : {};
+    if (canvasState.objects && Array.isArray(canvasState.objects)) {
+      const videoImages = new Map();
+      for (const img of images) {
+        if (img.media_type === 'video' && img.poster_asset_key) {
+          videoImages.set(img.asset_key, img);
+        }
+      }
+      if (videoImages.size > 0) {
+        for (const obj of canvasState.objects) {
+          if (obj.type !== 'video') continue;
+          const dbImg = videoImages.get(obj.asset);
+          if (!dbImg) continue;
+          if (!obj.poster && dbImg.poster_asset_key) obj.poster = dbImg.poster_asset_key;
+          if (!obj.nativeW && dbImg.native_width) { obj.nativeW = dbImg.native_width; obj.w = dbImg.native_width; }
+          if (!obj.nativeH && dbImg.native_height) { obj.nativeH = dbImg.native_height; obj.h = dbImg.native_height; }
+          if (!obj.duration && dbImg.duration) obj.duration = dbImg.duration;
+        }
+      }
+    }
+
     return res.json({
       board: {
         ...board,
-        canvas_state: board.canvas_state ? JSON.parse(board.canvas_state) : {},
+        canvas_state: canvasState,
       },
       collection: {
         id: collection.id,
diff --git a/backend/routes/upload.js b/backend/routes/upload.js
index 3c9ed41..01c218b 100644
--- a/backend/routes/upload.js
+++ b/backend/routes/upload.js
@@ -6,9 +6,8 @@ const https = require('https');
 const http = require('http');
 const { URL } = require('url');
 const { authMiddleware } = require('../auth');
-const { getBoard, getCollectionMember, createImage } = require('../db');
+const { getBoard, getCollectionMember, createImage, createMediaJob } = require('../db');
 const { putBuffer, getImageUrl, MIME_TO_EXT, MAX_FILE_SIZE } = require('../minio');
-const { probeVideo, extractPoster } = require('../video-utils');
 
 const router = Router();
 
@@ -91,8 +90,8 @@ function classifyMedia(mimeType) {
 
 /**
  * Upload a media file (image or video) to MinIO.
- * For videos: extracts poster frame + metadata via ffmpeg at upload time
- * so the board never needs a <video> element for thumbnails.
+ * Videos: stored immediately, poster/metadata extracted async by media-worker.
+ * Images: dimensions extracted inline (fast, no ffmpeg).
  */
 async function uploadMedia(boardId, imageId, buffer, mimetype) {
   const ext = MIME_TO_EXT[mimetype] || '.bin';
@@ -100,33 +99,15 @@ async function uploadMedia(boardId, imageId, buffer, mimetype) {
   await putBuffer(minioPath, buffer, mimetype);
 
   const isVideo = VIDEO_MIME_TYPES.includes(mimetype);
-  let width = null, height = null, duration = null, posterAssetKey = null;
+  let width = null, height = null;
 
-  if (isVideo) {
-    // Extract metadata and poster frame server-side
-    const [meta, posterBuf] = await Promise.all([
-      probeVideo(buffer),
-      extractPoster(buffer),
-    ]);
-
-    if (meta) {
-      width = meta.width;
-      height = meta.height;
-      duration = meta.duration;
-    }
-
-    if (posterBuf) {
-      const posterPath = `boards/${boardId}/${imageId}_poster.jpg`;
-      await putBuffer(posterPath, posterBuf, 'image/jpeg');
-      posterAssetKey = posterPath;
-    }
-  } else {
+  if (!isVideo) {
     const dims = await getImageDimensions(buffer, mimetype);
     width = dims.width;
     height = dims.height;
   }
 
-  return { assetKey: minioPath, minioPath, width, height, duration, posterAssetKey };
+  return { assetKey: minioPath, minioPath, width, height, isVideo };
 }
 
 /**
@@ -146,10 +127,10 @@ router.post('/boards/:boardId/images', upload.single('image'), async (req, res)
     const { buffer, originalname, mimetype, size } = req.file;
     const mediaType = classifyMedia(mimetype);
 
-    const { assetKey, minioPath, width, height, duration, posterAssetKey } = await uploadMedia(board.id, imageId, buffer, mimetype);
+    const { assetKey, minioPath, width, height, isVideo } = await uploadMedia(board.id, imageId, buffer, mimetype);
     const publicUrl = getImageUrl(minioPath);
 
-    // Save record
+    // Save image record first (media_jobs FK references images)
     const image = createImage({
       id: imageId,
       boardId: board.id,
@@ -165,6 +146,13 @@ router.post('/boards/:boardId/images', upload.single('image'), async (req, res)
       mediaType,
     });
 
+    // Enqueue background processing after image record exists
+    let jobId = null;
+    if (isVideo) {
+      jobId = uuidv4();
+      createMediaJob({ id: jobId, imageId, boardId: board.id, type: 'poster' });
+    }
+
     return res.status(201).json({
       id: image.id,
       url: publicUrl,
@@ -175,8 +163,8 @@ router.post('/boards/:boardId/images', upload.single('image'), async (req, res)
       mime_type: image.mime_type,
       asset_key: image.asset_key,
       media_type: image.media_type,
-      duration: duration || undefined,
-      poster_asset_key: posterAssetKey || undefined,
+      processing: jobId ? 'queued' : undefined,
+      job_id: jobId || undefined,
     });
   } catch (err) {
     if (err.code === 'LIMIT_FILE_SIZE') {
@@ -253,10 +241,10 @@ router.post('/boards/:boardId/images/from-url', async (req, res) => {
     const imageId = uuidv4();
     const mediaType = classifyMedia(mimeType);
 
-    const { assetKey, minioPath, width, height, duration, posterAssetKey } = await uploadMedia(board.id, imageId, buffer, mimeType);
+    const { assetKey, minioPath, width, height, isVideo } = await uploadMedia(board.id, imageId, buffer, mimeType);
     const publicUrl = getImageUrl(minioPath);
 
-    // Save record
+    // Save image record first (media_jobs FK references images)
     const image = createImage({
       id: imageId,
       boardId: board.id,
@@ -272,6 +260,13 @@ router.post('/boards/:boardId/images/from-url', async (req, res) => {
       mediaType,
     });
 
+    // Enqueue background processing after image record exists
+    let jobId = null;
+    if (isVideo) {
+      jobId = uuidv4();
+      createMediaJob({ id: jobId, imageId, boardId: board.id, type: 'poster' });
+    }
+
     return res.status(201).json({
       id: image.id,
       url: publicUrl,
@@ -282,8 +277,8 @@ router.post('/boards/:boardId/images/from-url', async (req, res) => {
       mime_type: image.mime_type,
       asset_key: image.asset_key,
       media_type: image.media_type,
-      duration: duration || undefined,
-      poster_asset_key: posterAssetKey || undefined,
+      processing: jobId ? 'queued' : undefined,
+      job_id: jobId || undefined,
     });
   } catch (err) {
     console.error('[upload] from-url error:', err);
diff --git a/backend/server.js b/backend/server.js
index 8a3d6b8..6ca04c6 100644
--- a/backend/server.js
+++ b/backend/server.js
@@ -174,6 +174,14 @@ async function start() {
     console.error('[server] MM watcher failed to start:', err.message);
   }
 
+  // Start media processing worker
+  try {
+    const { startMediaWorker } = require('./services/media-worker');
+    startMediaWorker(io);
+  } catch (err) {
+    console.error('[server] Media worker failed to start:', err.message);
+  }
+
   server.listen(PORT, '0.0.0.0', () => {
     console.log(`[server] RefBoard backend listening on port ${PORT}`);
   });
@@ -188,6 +196,11 @@ function shutdown(signal) {
     stopWatcher();
   } catch {}
 
+  try {
+    const { stopMediaWorker } = require('./services/media-worker');
+    stopMediaWorker();
+  } catch {}
+
   io.close(() => {
     console.log('[server] Socket.IO closed');
   });
diff --git a/backend/services/media-worker.js b/backend/services/media-worker.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4515b45
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/services/media-worker.js
@@ -0,0 +1,176 @@
+/**
+ * media-worker.js — Background queue worker for video processing.
+ *
+ * Polls the media_jobs table for pending jobs and runs ffprobe + ffmpeg
+ * with a concurrency limit so uploads return instantly.
+ *
+ * Emits socket events so the frontend can upgrade placeholders in real-time.
+ */
+
+const {
+  getPendingMediaJobs,
+  updateMediaJob,
+  updateImageMedia,
+  getImage,
+} = require('../db');
+const { probeVideo, extractPoster } = require('../video-utils');
+const { putBuffer, minioClient, MINIO_BUCKET } = require('../minio');
+
+const POLL_INTERVAL_MS = 3000;
+const MAX_CONCURRENCY = 2;
+
+let io = null;
+let pollTimer = null;
+let activeCount = 0;
+let stopping = false;
+
+/**
+ * Start the media worker. Pass the Socket.IO server instance for notifications.
+ */
+function startMediaWorker(ioInstance) {
+  io = ioInstance;
+  stopping = false;
+  console.log('[media-worker] Started (poll=%dms, concurrency=%d)', POLL_INTERVAL_MS, MAX_CONCURRENCY);
+  poll();
+}
+
+function stopMediaWorker() {
+  stopping = true;
+  if (pollTimer) {
+    clearTimeout(pollTimer);
+    pollTimer = null;
+  }
+  console.log('[media-worker] Stopped');
+}
+
+function schedulePoll() {
+  if (stopping) return;
+  pollTimer = setTimeout(poll, POLL_INTERVAL_MS);
+}
+
+async function poll() {
+  if (stopping) return;
+
+  const slotsAvailable = MAX_CONCURRENCY - activeCount;
+  if (slotsAvailable <= 0) {
+    schedulePoll();
+    return;
+  }
+
+  try {
+    const jobs = getPendingMediaJobs(slotsAvailable);
+    for (const job of jobs) {
+      activeCount++;
+      processJob(job).finally(() => {
+        activeCount--;
+      });
+    }
+  } catch (err) {
+    console.error('[media-worker] Poll error:', err.message);
+  }
+
+  schedulePoll();
+}
+
+async function processJob(job) {
+  const jobId = job.id;
+  const imageId = job.image_id;
+  const boardId = job.board_id;
+
+  try {
+    updateMediaJob(jobId, { status: 'processing', startedAt: new Date().toISOString() });
+    emitJobUpdate(boardId, jobId, imageId, 'processing');
+
+    // Fetch the raw video from MinIO
+    const image = getImage(imageId);
+    if (!image) {
+      updateMediaJob(jobId, { status: 'failed', error: 'Image record not found' });
+      emitJobUpdate(boardId, jobId, imageId, 'failed');
+      return;
+    }
+
+    const videoBuffer = await fetchFromMinio(image.minio_path);
+    if (!videoBuffer) {
+      updateMediaJob(jobId, { status: 'failed', error: 'Failed to fetch video from storage' });
+      emitJobUpdate(boardId, jobId, imageId, 'failed');
+      return;
+    }
+
+    // Run ffprobe + ffmpeg in parallel
+    const [meta, posterBuf] = await Promise.all([
+      probeVideo(videoBuffer),
+      extractPoster(videoBuffer),
+    ]);
+
+    let posterAssetKey = null;
+    if (posterBuf) {
+      posterAssetKey = `boards/${boardId}/${imageId}_poster.jpg`;
+      await putBuffer(posterAssetKey, posterBuf, 'image/jpeg');
+    }
+
+    const nativeWidth = meta?.width || null;
+    const nativeHeight = meta?.height || null;
+    const duration = meta?.duration || null;
+
+    // Update the image record with processed media info
+    updateImageMedia(imageId, { posterAssetKey, duration, nativeWidth, nativeHeight });
+
+    updateMediaJob(jobId, {
+      status: 'done',
+      finishedAt: new Date().toISOString(),
+    });
+
+    emitJobUpdate(boardId, jobId, imageId, 'done', {
+      posterAssetKey,
+      nativeWidth,
+      nativeHeight,
+      duration,
+    });
+
+    console.log('[media-worker] Job %s done (image=%s, poster=%s)', jobId, imageId, !!posterAssetKey);
+  } catch (err) {
+    console.error('[media-worker] Job %s failed:', jobId, err.message);
+
+    const attempts = (job.attempts || 0) + 1;
+    if (attempts < 3) {
+      updateMediaJob(jobId, { status: 'retry', attempts, error: err.message });
+      emitJobUpdate(boardId, jobId, imageId, 'retry');
+    } else {
+      updateMediaJob(jobId, { status: 'failed', attempts, error: err.message });
+      emitJobUpdate(boardId, jobId, imageId, 'failed');
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+/**
+ * Fetch object from MinIO as a Buffer.
+ */
+async function fetchFromMinio(objectPath) {
+  try {
+    const stream = await minioClient.getObject(MINIO_BUCKET, objectPath);
+    const chunks = [];
+    for await (const chunk of stream) {
+      chunks.push(chunk);
+    }
+    return Buffer.concat(chunks);
+  } catch (err) {
+    console.warn('[media-worker] MinIO fetch failed:', err.message);
+    return null;
+  }
+}
+
+/**
+ * Emit a media job update to all sockets in the board room.
+ */
+function emitJobUpdate(boardId, jobId, imageId, status, result) {
+  if (!io) return;
+  const room = `board:${boardId}`;
+  io.to(room).emit('media:job:update', {
+    jobId,
+    imageId,
+    status,
+    ...(result || {}),
+  });
+}
+
+module.exports = { startMediaWorker, stopMediaWorker };
diff --git a/frontend/src/canvas/PixiCanvas.tsx b/frontend/src/canvas/PixiCanvas.tsx
index 7e024e9..2392012 100644
--- a/frontend/src/canvas/PixiCanvas.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/canvas/PixiCanvas.tsx
@@ -175,68 +175,77 @@ const PixiCanvas = forwardRef<PixiCanvasHandle, PixiCanvasProps>(
         const MAX_POSTER_VIDEOS = 4;      // max poster textures in GPU (tier 2)
 
         let lastCullCheck = 0;
+        // Track loaded resources so we can unload without scanning all items
+        const loadedImages = new Set<string>();   // IDs of images with loaded textures
+        const loadedVideos = new Set<string>();    // IDs of videos with init/poster/playing state
         app.ticker.add((ticker) => {
           lastCullCheck += ticker.deltaMS;
-          if (lastCullCheck < 200) return;
+          if (lastCullCheck < 250) return;
           lastCullCheck = 0;
 
           const bounds = viewport.getVisibleBounds();
-          const loadMargin = Math.max(bounds.width, bounds.height);
+          const loadMargin = Math.max(bounds.width, bounds.height) * 0.5;
           const vcx = bounds.x + bounds.width / 2;
           const vcy = bounds.y + bounds.height / 2;
 
           const imageItems: { item: SceneItem; sprite: ImageSprite; dist: number; near: boolean }[] = [];
           const videoItems: { item: SceneItem; sprite: VideoSprite; dist: number; near: boolean }[] = [];
 
-          for (const item of scene.getAllItems()) {
-            const { x: ix, y: iy, w: iw, h: ih } = getItemWorldBounds(item);
-            const cx = ix + iw / 2;
-            const cy = iy + ih / 2;
+          // Spatial query: only check items within the extended viewport region
+          const qx = bounds.x - loadMargin;
+          const qy = bounds.y - loadMargin;
+          const qw = bounds.width + loadMargin * 2;
+          const qh = bounds.height + loadMargin * 2;
+          const nearbyItems = scene.queryRegion(qx, qy, qw, qh);
+
+          for (const item of nearbyItems) {
+            const cx = item.data.x + (item.data.w * Math.abs(item.data.sx)) / 2;
+            const cy = item.data.y + (item.data.h * Math.abs(item.data.sy)) / 2;
             const dist = (cx - vcx) ** 2 + (cy - vcy) ** 2;
-            const near =
-              ix + iw > bounds.x - loadMargin &&
-              ix < bounds.x + bounds.width + loadMargin &&
-              iy + ih > bounds.y - loadMargin &&
-              iy < bounds.y + bounds.height + loadMargin;
 
             if (item.type === 'image' && item.displayObject instanceof ImageSprite) {
-              imageItems.push({ item, sprite: item.displayObject, dist, near });
+              imageItems.push({ item, sprite: item.displayObject, dist, near: true });
             } else if (item.type === 'video' && item.displayObject instanceof VideoSprite) {
-              videoItems.push({ item, sprite: item.displayObject, dist, near });
+              videoItems.push({ item, sprite: item.displayObject, dist, near: true });
             }
           }
 
           // ---- Image budget management ----
           imageItems.sort((a, b) => a.dist - b.dist);
-          const nearImages = imageItems.filter(i => i.near);
           const shouldLoadImage = new Set(
-            nearImages.slice(0, MAX_LOADED_TEXTURES).map(i => i.item.id)
+            imageItems.slice(0, MAX_LOADED_TEXTURES).map(i => i.item.id)
           );
 
           let imgLoadsThisTick = 0;
           for (const { item, sprite } of imageItems) {
-            if (shouldLoadImage.has(item.id) && !sprite.loaded && imgLoadsThisTick < 5) {
+            if (shouldLoadImage.has(item.id) && !sprite.loaded && imgLoadsThisTick < 3) {
               sprite.loadTexture();
+              loadedImages.add(item.id);
               imgLoadsThisTick++;
             }
           }
-          for (const { item, sprite, near } of imageItems) {
-            if (!sprite.loaded) continue;
-            if (!near || !shouldLoadImage.has(item.id)) {
+
+          // Unload images that left the viewport (check tracked set, not all items)
+          for (const id of loadedImages) {
+            if (shouldLoadImage.has(id)) continue;
+            const item = scene.items.get(id);
+            if (!item) { loadedImages.delete(id); continue; }
+            const sprite = item.displayObject;
+            if (sprite instanceof ImageSprite && sprite.loaded) {
               sprite.unloadTexture();
             }
+            loadedImages.delete(id);
           }
 
           // ---- Video budget management ----
           videoItems.sort((a, b) => a.dist - b.dist);
 
           // Determine budget sets (sorted by distance, nearest first)
-          const nearVideos = videoItems.filter(i => i.near);
           const shouldInit = new Set(
-            nearVideos.slice(0, MAX_INITIALIZED_VIDEOS).map(i => i.item.id)
+            videoItems.slice(0, MAX_INITIALIZED_VIDEOS).map(i => i.item.id)
           );
           const shouldPoster = new Set(
-            nearVideos.slice(0, MAX_POSTER_VIDEOS).map(i => i.item.id)
+            videoItems.slice(0, MAX_POSTER_VIDEOS).map(i => i.item.id)
           );
 
           // Initialize nearest videos within budget
@@ -244,40 +253,38 @@ const PixiCanvas = forwardRef<PixiCanvasHandle, PixiCanvasProps>(
           for (const { item, sprite } of videoItems) {
             if (shouldInit.has(item.id) && !sprite.isInitialized && vidInitsThisTick < 2) {
               sprite.initVideo();
+              loadedVideos.add(item.id);
               vidInitsThisTick++;
             }
-          }
-
-          // Load posters for nearest subset within budget
-          for (const { item, sprite } of videoItems) {
-            if (!shouldPoster.has(item.id) || sprite.hasPoster) continue;
-            if (sprite.hasServerPoster) {
-              // Server poster: load as image texture (no <video> needed)
-              sprite.loadServerPoster();
-            } else if (sprite.isInitialized) {
-              // Fallback: client-capture from video element
-              sprite.capturePoster();
+            // Load posters within budget
+            // Prefer server poster over client capture; upgrade if server poster becomes available
+            if (shouldPoster.has(item.id)) {
+              if (!sprite.hasPoster) {
+                if (sprite.hasServerPoster) {
+                  sprite.loadServerPoster();
+                } else if (sprite.isInitialized) {
+                  sprite.capturePoster();
+                }
+              } else if (sprite.hasServerPoster && !sprite.isServerPosterLoaded) {
+                // Client poster exists but server poster now available — upgrade
+                sprite.loadServerPoster();
+              }
+              loadedVideos.add(item.id);
             }
           }
 
-          // Tear down videos outside budgets (farthest first = reverse iteration)
-          for (let i = videoItems.length - 1; i >= 0; i--) {
-            const { item, sprite, near } = videoItems[i];
+          // Tear down videos that left the viewport (check tracked set)
+          for (const id of loadedVideos) {
+            if (shouldInit.has(id) || shouldPoster.has(id)) continue;
+            const item = scene.items.get(id);
+            if (!item) { loadedVideos.delete(id); continue; }
+            const sprite = item.displayObject;
+            if (!(sprite instanceof VideoSprite)) { loadedVideos.delete(id); continue; }
 
-            // Pause offscreen playing videos
-            if (!near && sprite.isPlaying) {
-              sprite.onVisibilityChange(false);
-            }
-
-            // Destroy poster if outside poster budget
-            if (!shouldPoster.has(item.id) && sprite.hasPoster && !sprite.isPlaying) {
-              sprite.destroyPoster();
-            }
-
-            // Tear down video element if outside init budget
-            if (!shouldInit.has(item.id) && sprite.isInitialized && !sprite.isPlaying) {
-              sprite.teardownVideo();
-            }
+            if (sprite.isPlaying) sprite.onVisibilityChange(false);
+            if (sprite.hasPoster && !sprite.isPlaying) sprite.destroyPoster();
+            if (sprite.isInitialized && !sprite.isPlaying) sprite.teardownVideo();
+            loadedVideos.delete(id);
           }
         });
 
diff --git a/frontend/src/canvas/SceneManager.ts b/frontend/src/canvas/SceneManager.ts
index caff069..08c79f4 100644
--- a/frontend/src/canvas/SceneManager.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/canvas/SceneManager.ts
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ import { DrawingSprite } from './sprites/DrawingSprite';
 import { FrameSprite } from './sprites/FrameSprite';
 import { SpringManager, Spring, PRESETS } from './spring';
 import { reparentGroupChildren } from './grouping';
+import { SpatialGrid } from './SpatialGrid';
 import type {
   SceneData,
   AnySceneObject,
@@ -140,6 +141,7 @@ export class SceneManager {
   readonly viewport: Viewport;
   readonly textures: TextureManager;
   readonly springs: SpringManager;
+  readonly spatialGrid: SpatialGrid<SceneItem> = new SpatialGrid<SceneItem>(512);
 
   private _onChange: (() => void) | null = null;
   private _onItemDimensionsChanged: ((itemId: string) => void) | null = null;
@@ -151,6 +153,17 @@ export class SceneManager {
     this.springs = springs;
   }
 
+  /** Update an item's spatial index entry from its current data. */
+  updateSpatialEntry(item: SceneItem): void {
+    const { x, y, w, h } = getItemWorldBounds(item);
+    this.spatialGrid.upsert(item.id, item, x, y, w, h);
+  }
+
+  /** Query items overlapping the given world rectangle. */
+  queryRegion(rx: number, ry: number, rw: number, rh: number): SceneItem[] {
+    return this.spatialGrid.query(rx, ry, rw, rh).map(e => e.data);
+  }
+
   // -- onChange callback ----------------------------------------------------
 
   set onChange(fn: (() => void) | null) {
@@ -220,6 +233,7 @@ export class SceneManager {
       }
 
       item.displayObject.destroy({ children: true });
+      this.spatialGrid.remove(id);
       this.items.delete(id);
     }
 
@@ -332,6 +346,7 @@ export class SceneManager {
     };
 
     this.items.set(data.id, item);
+    this.updateSpatialEntry(item);
 
     // Wire video dimension auto-correction to the STORED item.data (not the original param)
     if (data.type === 'video' && displayObject instanceof VideoSprite) {
@@ -429,6 +444,7 @@ export class SceneManager {
     // Update stored data
     item.data = { ...data };
     item.type = data.type;
+    this.updateSpatialEntry(item);
   }
 
   // -- Z-Ordering ----------------------------------------------------------
@@ -505,12 +521,14 @@ export class SceneManager {
     if (item.data.type === 'group') {
       const groupData = item.data as import('./scene-format').GroupObject;
       for (const childId of groupData.children) {
+        this.spatialGrid.remove(childId);
         this.items.delete(childId);
       }
     }
 
     if (!animate) {
       item.displayObject.destroy({ children: true });
+      this.spatialGrid.remove(id);
       this.items.delete(id);
       this._onChange?.();
       return;
@@ -519,6 +537,7 @@ export class SceneManager {
     const obj = item.displayObject;
 
     // Remove from map immediately to prevent double-remove
+    this.spatialGrid.remove(id);
     this.items.delete(id);
 
     // Scale toward center on removal
@@ -710,6 +729,7 @@ export class SceneManager {
       data: groupData,
     };
     this.items.set(groupData.id, groupItem);
+    this.updateSpatialEntry(groupItem);
 
     // Animate each child ~25px toward center, then reparent into container
     const CONVERGE_PX = 25;
@@ -842,6 +862,7 @@ export class SceneManager {
     if (!container.destroyed) {
       container.destroy();
     }
+    this.spatialGrid.remove(groupId);
     this.items.delete(groupId);
 
     this._applyZOrder();
diff --git a/frontend/src/canvas/SelectionManager.ts b/frontend/src/canvas/SelectionManager.ts
index dc6366c..ba390a8 100644
--- a/frontend/src/canvas/SelectionManager.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/canvas/SelectionManager.ts
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ export class SelectionManager {
   private _onSelectionChange: ((ids: string[]) => void) | null = null;
   private _onItemTransform: ((item: SceneItem) => void) | null = null;
   private _onItemsTransform: ((items: SceneItem[]) => void) | null = null;
+  private _onObjectDragEnd: ((ids: string[]) => void) | null = null;
 
   // Pointer state
   private _pointerDown = false;
@@ -122,6 +123,11 @@ export class SelectionManager {
     this._onItemsTransform = fn;
   }
 
+  /** Called when object drag ends (for persist/save/spatial refresh). */
+  set onObjectDragEnd(fn: (ids: string[]) => void) {
+    this._onObjectDragEnd = fn;
+  }
+
   /** Called on double-click of a text item (for inline editing). */
   set onDoubleClickText(fn: (item: SceneItem) => void) {
     this._onDoubleClickText = fn;
@@ -313,6 +319,7 @@ export class SelectionManager {
 
       // Notify change (positions updated)
       this._emitChange();
+      this._onObjectDragEnd?.(Array.from(this.selectedIds));
     } else if (this._rubberBanding) {
       // Finish rubber band selection
       const currentWorld = this._viewport.toWorld(e.global.x, e.global.y);
diff --git a/frontend/src/canvas/SpatialGrid.ts b/frontend/src/canvas/SpatialGrid.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..461509f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/src/canvas/SpatialGrid.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,140 @@
+/**
+ * SpatialGrid — fixed-cell spatial index for fast region queries.
+ *
+ * Each item occupies one or more grid cells based on its axis-aligned bounds.
+ * Query returns all items whose cells overlap the query rectangle.
+ *
+ * Cell size should be ~1-2x the median item size for best performance.
+ * Too small = many cells per item. Too large = too many items per cell.
+ */
+
+export interface SpatialEntry<T> {
+  id: string;
+  data: T;
+  x: number;
+  y: number;
+  w: number;
+  h: number;
+}
+
+export class SpatialGrid<T> {
+  private cellSize: number;
+  private cells: Map<string, Set<string>> = new Map();
+  private entries: Map<string, SpatialEntry<T>> = new Map();
+
+  constructor(cellSize = 512) {
+    this.cellSize = cellSize;
+  }
+
+  /** Insert or update an entry. */
+  upsert(id: string, data: T, x: number, y: number, w: number, h: number): void {
+    // Remove old cells if updating
+    if (this.entries.has(id)) {
+      this._removeCells(id);
+    }
+
+    const entry: SpatialEntry<T> = { id, data, x, y, w, h };
+    this.entries.set(id, entry);
+    this._insertCells(id, x, y, w, h);
+  }
+
+  /** Remove an entry. */
+  remove(id: string): void {
+    if (!this.entries.has(id)) return;
+    this._removeCells(id);
+    this.entries.delete(id);
+  }
+
+  /** Query all entries that overlap the given rectangle. */
+  query(rx: number, ry: number, rw: number, rh: number): SpatialEntry<T>[] {
+    const seen = new Set<string>();
+    const results: SpatialEntry<T>[] = [];
+
+    const c0 = Math.floor(rx / this.cellSize);
+    const r0 = Math.floor(ry / this.cellSize);
+    const c1 = Math.floor((rx + rw) / this.cellSize);
+    const r1 = Math.floor((ry + rh) / this.cellSize);
+
+    for (let r = r0; r <= r1; r++) {
+      for (let c = c0; c <= c1; c++) {
+        const key = `${c},${r}`;
+        const cell = this.cells.get(key);
+        if (!cell) continue;
+
+        for (const id of cell) {
+          if (seen.has(id)) continue;
+          seen.add(id);
+
+          const entry = this.entries.get(id)!;
+          // AABB overlap check
+          if (
+            entry.x < rx + rw &&
+            entry.x + entry.w > rx &&
+            entry.y < ry + rh &&
+            entry.y + entry.h > ry
+          ) {
+            results.push(entry);
+          }
+        }
+      }
+    }
+
+    return results;
+  }
+
+  /** Get a specific entry by ID. */
+  get(id: string): SpatialEntry<T> | undefined {
+    return this.entries.get(id);
+  }
+
+  /** Number of entries in the index. */
+  get size(): number {
+    return this.entries.size;
+  }
+
+  /** Clear the entire index. */
+  clear(): void {
+    this.cells.clear();
+    this.entries.clear();
+  }
+
+  // ---- Internal ----
+
+  private _cellKeys(x: number, y: number, w: number, h: number): string[] {
+    const c0 = Math.floor(x / this.cellSize);
+    const r0 = Math.floor(y / this.cellSize);
+    const c1 = Math.floor((x + w) / this.cellSize);
+    const r1 = Math.floor((y + h) / this.cellSize);
+
+    const keys: string[] = [];
+    for (let r = r0; r <= r1; r++) {
+      for (let c = c0; c <= c1; c++) {
+        keys.push(`${c},${r}`);
+      }
+    }
+    return keys;
+  }
+
+  private _insertCells(id: string, x: number, y: number, w: number, h: number): void {
+    for (const key of this._cellKeys(x, y, w, h)) {
+      let cell = this.cells.get(key);
+      if (!cell) {
+        cell = new Set();
+        this.cells.set(key, cell);
+      }
+      cell.add(id);
+    }
+  }
+
+  private _removeCells(id: string): void {
+    const entry = this.entries.get(id);
+    if (!entry) return;
+    for (const key of this._cellKeys(entry.x, entry.y, entry.w, entry.h)) {
+      const cell = this.cells.get(key);
+      if (cell) {
+        cell.delete(id);
+        if (cell.size === 0) this.cells.delete(key);
+      }
+    }
+  }
+}
diff --git a/frontend/src/canvas/sprites/VideoSprite.ts b/frontend/src/canvas/sprites/VideoSprite.ts
index 1983a81..abe0094 100644
--- a/frontend/src/canvas/sprites/VideoSprite.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/canvas/sprites/VideoSprite.ts
@@ -11,8 +11,10 @@ import { TextureManager } from '../TextureManager';
  *   Tier 2 — client-captured poster from video frame (fallback if no server poster)
  *   Tier 3 — actively playing with live video texture (user-initiated)
  *
- * If the server provides a poster asset key at upload time, the video renders
- * as a plain image until explicitly played. No <video> element needed for thumbnails.
+ * Playback uses a canvas intermediary: video frames are drawn to an offscreen
+ * canvas, then uploaded to GPU via a standard image texture. This avoids
+ * GL_INVALID_OPERATION errors from PixiJS's VideoSource auto-update mechanism
+ * which tries to copy video frames before the GPU texture is allocated.
  */
 
 const MAX_PLAYING_VIDEOS = 1;
@@ -24,7 +26,7 @@ const SHADOW_LIFT = { offsetX: 6, offsetY: 8, alpha: 0.3 };
 export class VideoSprite extends Container {
   readonly assetKey: string;
   readonly videoUrl: string;
-  readonly posterAssetKey: string | null;
+  posterAssetKey: string | null;
 
   private textures: TextureManager | null;
   private videoEl: HTMLVideoElement | null = null;
@@ -41,6 +43,11 @@ export class VideoSprite extends Container {
   private _isPlaying = false;
   private _videoInitialized = false;
   private _hasPoster = false;
+  // Canvas-based video rendering (avoids VideoSource GL errors)
+  private _frameCanvas: HTMLCanvasElement | null = null;
+  private _frameCtx: CanvasRenderingContext2D | null = null;
+  private _rafId: number | null = null;
+  private _useRVFC = false; // true if requestVideoFrameCallback is available
   muted = true;
   loop = true;
 
@@ -66,6 +73,7 @@ export class VideoSprite extends Container {
     this.textures = textures ?? null;
     this._naturalWidth = w;
     this._naturalHeight = h;
+    this._useRVFC = 'requestVideoFrameCallback' in HTMLVideoElement.prototype;
 
     // Shadow
     this._shadow = new Graphics();
@@ -96,6 +104,50 @@ export class VideoSprite extends Container {
   /** Whether this video has a server-generated poster available (not yet loaded). */
   get hasServerPoster(): boolean { return !!this.posterAssetKey && !!this.textures; }
 
+  /** Whether the server-generated poster has been loaded (vs client-captured). */
+  get isServerPosterLoaded(): boolean { return this._serverPosterLoaded; }
+
+  // ---- Tier 0: Apply processed media from background worker ---------------
+
+  /** Update dimensions + poster key from the media worker result.
+   *  Resizes all internal visuals and loads poster immediately if not playing. */
+  applyProcessedMedia(opts: {
+    posterAssetKey?: string | null;
+    nativeWidth?: number | null;
+    nativeHeight?: number | null;
+  }): void {
+    if (this.destroyed) return;
+
+    if (opts.posterAssetKey) {
+      this.posterAssetKey = opts.posterAssetKey;
+    }
+
+    const nw = opts.nativeWidth;
+    const nh = opts.nativeHeight;
+    if (nw && nh && nw > 0 && nh > 0 && (nw !== this._naturalWidth || nh !== this._naturalHeight)) {
+      this._naturalWidth = nw;
+      this._naturalHeight = nh;
+
+      if (this._sprite) {
+        this._sprite.width = nw;
+        this._sprite.height = nh;
+      }
+      if (this._placeholder) {
+        this._placeholder.clear();
+        this._placeholder.rect(0, 0, nw, nh).fill(0x2a2a2a);
+      }
+      this._drawShadow(SHADOW_REST);
+      this._drawPlayIcon();
+      this.onDimensionsKnown?.(nw, nh);
+    }
+
+    // Load server poster if not playing and server poster not yet loaded.
+    // This upgrades a client-captured poster (possibly black) to the real one.
+    if (!this._isPlaying && !this._serverPosterLoaded && this.hasServerPoster) {
+      this.loadServerPoster();
+    }
+  }
+
   // ---- Tier 0.5: Server-generated poster (loaded like an image) -----------
 
   /** Load server poster. Called by culling system when within poster budget. */
@@ -109,6 +161,11 @@ export class VideoSprite extends Container {
         return;
       }
 
+      // Clean up any existing client-captured poster before replacing
+      if (this._hasPoster && this.posterTexture && !this._serverPosterLoaded) {
+        this.posterTexture.destroy(true);
+      }
+
       this.posterTexture = tex;
       this._hasPoster = true;
       this._serverPosterLoaded = true;
@@ -116,7 +173,6 @@ export class VideoSprite extends Container {
       this._ensureSprite(tex);
       this._removePlaceholder();
     } catch {
-      // Server poster failed — will fall back to client capture if needed
     } finally {
       this._serverPosterLoading = false;
     }
@@ -214,31 +270,67 @@ export class VideoSprite extends Container {
     this.videoEl.muted = this.muted;
     this.videoEl.loop = this.loop;
 
-    if (!this.videoTexture) {
-      this.videoTexture = Texture.from(this.videoEl);
-    }
-
-    // Drop poster while playing — don't keep both resident
-    if (this._hasPoster && this.posterTexture) {
-      if (this._serverPosterLoaded && this.posterAssetKey && this.textures) {
-        this.textures.release(this.posterAssetKey);
-      } else {
-        this.posterTexture.destroy(true);
-      }
-      this.posterTexture = null;
-      this._hasPoster = false;
-      this._serverPosterLoaded = false;
-    }
-
-    this._ensureSprite(this.videoTexture);
-    this._removePlaceholder();
-
     this._isPlaying = true;
-    this._overlay.visible = false;
     activeVideos.add(this);
     this.onStateChange?.();
 
-    this.videoEl.play().catch(() => {
+    const videoEl = this.videoEl!;
+
+    // Once a decoded frame is available, create a canvas-backed texture.
+    // Drawing video → canvas → GPU avoids all VideoSource GL errors.
+    const swapToVideoTexture = () => {
+      if (this.destroyed || !this._isPlaying || !this.videoEl) return;
+
+      const vw = this.videoEl.videoWidth || this._naturalWidth;
+      const vh = this.videoEl.videoHeight || this._naturalHeight;
+
+      if (!this.videoTexture) {
+        // Create offscreen canvas and draw the first frame
+        this._frameCanvas = document.createElement('canvas');
+        this._frameCanvas.width = vw;
+        this._frameCanvas.height = vh;
+        this._frameCtx = this._frameCanvas.getContext('2d');
+        if (this._frameCtx) {
+          this._frameCtx.drawImage(this.videoEl, 0, 0, vw, vh);
+        }
+        // Create texture from canvas — always has valid pixel data
+        this.videoTexture = Texture.from(this._frameCanvas);
+      }
+
+      // Drop poster while playing — don't keep both resident
+      if (this._hasPoster && this.posterTexture) {
+        if (this._serverPosterLoaded && this.posterAssetKey && this.textures) {
+          this.textures.release(this.posterAssetKey);
+        } else {
+          this.posterTexture.destroy(true);
+        }
+        this.posterTexture = null;
+        this._hasPoster = false;
+        this._serverPosterLoaded = false;
+      }
+
+      this._ensureSprite(this.videoTexture);
+      this._removePlaceholder();
+      this._overlay.visible = false;
+
+      // Start manual frame update loop
+      this._startFrameLoop();
+    };
+
+    // Wait for a decoded frame before creating the GPU texture.
+    let swapped = false;
+    const safeSwap = () => { if (!swapped) { swapped = true; swapToVideoTexture(); } };
+
+    if (videoEl.readyState >= 4) {
+      safeSwap();
+    } else if (this._useRVFC) {
+      (videoEl as any).requestVideoFrameCallback(safeSwap);
+    } else {
+      videoEl.addEventListener('playing', safeSwap, { once: true });
+    }
+
+    videoEl.play().catch(() => {
+      videoEl.removeEventListener('playing', safeSwap);
       this._isPlaying = false;
       this._overlay.visible = true;
       activeVideos.delete(this);
@@ -252,6 +344,15 @@ export class VideoSprite extends Container {
     this._isPlaying = false;
     this._overlay.visible = true;
     activeVideos.delete(this);
+    this._stopFrameLoop();
+
+    // Restore server poster — paused video behaves like an image.
+    // Drop the live video texture to free GPU memory.
+    if (this.hasServerPoster && !this._hasPoster) {
+      this._destroyVideoTexture();
+      this.loadServerPoster();
+    }
+
     this.onStateChange?.();
   }
 
@@ -440,7 +541,49 @@ export class VideoSprite extends Container {
     this.videoEl = null;
   }
 
+  /** Draw current video frame to offscreen canvas, then tell PixiJS to re-upload. */
+  private _drawFrame(): void {
+    if (!this._frameCtx || !this._frameCanvas || !this.videoEl || !this.videoTexture) return;
+    this._frameCtx.drawImage(this.videoEl, 0, 0, this._frameCanvas.width, this._frameCanvas.height);
+    this.videoTexture.source.update();
+  }
+
+  private _startFrameLoop(): void {
+    if (this._rafId !== null) return;
+    const videoEl = this.videoEl;
+    if (!videoEl) return;
+
+    if (this._useRVFC) {
+      // requestVideoFrameCallback — fires only when a new decoded frame is ready
+      const onFrame = () => {
+        if (!this._isPlaying || this.destroyed) { this._rafId = null; return; }
+        this._drawFrame();
+        this._rafId = (videoEl as any).requestVideoFrameCallback(onFrame);
+      };
+      this._rafId = (videoEl as any).requestVideoFrameCallback(onFrame);
+    } else {
+      // Fallback: requestAnimationFrame
+      const onFrame = () => {
+        if (!this._isPlaying || this.destroyed) { this._rafId = null; return; }
+        this._drawFrame();
+        this._rafId = requestAnimationFrame(onFrame);
+      };
+      this._rafId = requestAnimationFrame(onFrame);
+    }
+  }
+
+  private _stopFrameLoop(): void {
+    if (this._rafId === null) return;
+    if (this._useRVFC && this.videoEl) {
+      (this.videoEl as any).cancelVideoFrameCallback(this._rafId);
+    } else {
+      cancelAnimationFrame(this._rafId);
+    }
+    this._rafId = null;
+  }
+
   private _destroyVideoTexture(): void {
+    this._stopFrameLoop();
     if (this.videoTexture) {
       if (this._sprite && this._sprite.texture === this.videoTexture) {
         this._removeSpriteFromTree();
@@ -449,12 +592,17 @@ export class VideoSprite extends Container {
       this.videoTexture.destroy(true);
       this.videoTexture = null;
     }
+    this._frameCanvas = null;
+    this._frameCtx = null;
   }
 
   destroy(options?: Parameters<Container['destroy']>[0]): void {
+    this._stopFrameLoop();
     this.pause();
     this._destroyVideoEl();
     if (this.videoTexture) { this.videoTexture.destroy(true); this.videoTexture = null; }
+    this._frameCanvas = null;
+    this._frameCtx = null;
     if (this._hasPoster && this.posterTexture) {
       if (this._serverPosterLoaded && this.posterAssetKey && this.textures) {
         this.textures.release(this.posterAssetKey);
diff --git a/frontend/src/hooks/useCanvasSetup.ts b/frontend/src/hooks/useCanvasSetup.ts
index e25745d..3918ef1 100644
--- a/frontend/src/hooks/useCanvasSetup.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/hooks/useCanvasSetup.ts
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import { setupDragDrop, setupPaste } from '../canvas/image-drop';
 import { UndoManager } from '../canvas/history';
 import { InboxZone } from '../canvas/InboxZone';
 import { LaserPointer } from '../canvas/LaserPointer';
+import { VideoSprite } from '../canvas/sprites/VideoSprite';
 // PresenceOverlay removed — remote selection highlighting was too heavy for minimal benefit
 import { connectSocket, disconnectSocket } from '../socket';
 
@@ -137,8 +138,11 @@ export function useCanvasSetup(deps: CanvasSetupDeps) {
         selection.transformBox.onItemTransform = (item) => {
           syncRef.current?.broadcastTransform(item);
         };
+        selection.onObjectDragEnd = (itemIds) => {
+          onCanvasChange(itemIds); // broadcasts elements + saves + undo + spatial refresh
+        };
         selection.transformBox.onDragEnd = (itemIds) => {
-          onCanvasChange(itemIds); // broadcasts elements + saves + undo
+          onCanvasChange(itemIds); // broadcasts elements + saves + undo + spatial refresh
         };
 
         socket.on('user:joined', (data: any) => {
@@ -176,6 +180,39 @@ export function useCanvasSetup(deps: CanvasSetupDeps) {
           }
         });
 
+        // Media processing pipeline: upgrade videos when poster/metadata arrives
+        socket.on('media:job:update', (data: any) => {
+          if (!data || data.status !== 'done') return;
+          const { imageId, posterAssetKey, nativeWidth, nativeHeight, duration } = data;
+          if (!imageId) return;
+
+          // Find the video item by matching its DB image ID stored in scene data
+          for (const item of scene.items.values()) {
+            if (item.data.type !== 'video') continue;
+            // The asset key contains the imageId (e.g. boards/{boardId}/{imageId}.mp4)
+            if (!item.data.asset?.includes(imageId)) continue;
+
+            // Update scene data model
+            const vidData = item.data as any;
+            if (posterAssetKey) vidData.poster = posterAssetKey;
+            if (nativeWidth) { vidData.nativeW = nativeWidth; vidData.w = nativeWidth; }
+            if (nativeHeight) { vidData.nativeH = nativeHeight; vidData.h = nativeHeight; }
+            if (duration) vidData.duration = duration;
+
+            // Update rendered VideoSprite (dimensions, shadow, overlay, poster key)
+            if (item.displayObject instanceof VideoSprite) {
+              item.displayObject.applyProcessedMedia({ posterAssetKey, nativeWidth, nativeHeight });
+            }
+
+            // Update spatial index for changed dimensions
+            scene.updateSpatialEntry(item);
+
+            // No broadcastElements here — all clients receive the same
+            // media:job:update from the server. Echoing would cause fanout churn.
+            break;
+          }
+        });
+
         // Cursor tracking — throttled to ~30fps to avoid flooding the socket
         let cursorTimer: ReturnType<typeof setTimeout> | null = null;
         const onPointerMove = (e: any) => {
diff --git a/frontend/src/pages/Editor.tsx b/frontend/src/pages/Editor.tsx
index 65b79d2..8e80553 100644
--- a/frontend/src/pages/Editor.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/pages/Editor.tsx
@@ -111,6 +111,14 @@ export default function Editor({ isPublicView }: EditorProps) {
     if (changedIds && changedIds.length > 0) {
       // Incremental: broadcast only changed elements
       syncRef.current?.broadcastElements(changedIds);
+      // Keep spatial index in sync for all local mutations (align/flip/arrange/etc.)
+      const scene = canvasRef.current?.getScene();
+      if (scene) {
+        for (const id of changedIds) {
+          const item = scene.items.get(id);
+          if (item) scene.updateSpatialEntry(item);
+        }
+      }
     }
     // Full scene sync happens via debounced SceneManager.onChange chain in sync.ts
     if (undoRef.current && !undoRef.current.isLocked()) {