diff --git a/services/worker/src/workers/filmstrip.js b/services/worker/src/workers/filmstrip.js
index d6fb0e2..02be55a 100644
--- a/services/worker/src/workers/filmstrip.js
+++ b/services/worker/src/workers/filmstrip.js
@@ -26,6 +26,18 @@ export const filmstripWorker = async (job) => {
   try {
     await mkdir(tmpDir, { recursive: true });
 
+    // Check asset status before doing any work
+    const assetRow = await query(
+      'SELECT status FROM assets WHERE id = $1',
+      [assetId]
+    );
+    const asset = assetRow.rows[0];
+
+    if (asset?.status === 'pending_migration') {
+      console.log(`[filmstrip] asset ${assetId} is pending_migration, skipping`);
+      return;
+    }
+
     // 1. Download proxy from S3
     await job.updateProgress(5);
     console.log(`[filmstrip] Downloading ${proxyKey} for asset ${assetId}`);
@@ -38,7 +50,7 @@ export const filmstripWorker = async (job) => {
 
     // 3. Extract FRAME_COUNT frames evenly spaced across the clip using FFmpeg
     // fps filter: select one frame every (duration / frameCount) seconds.
-    // select=not(mod(n\,step)) is less reliable than fps for variable-frame content.
+    // select=not(mod(n\\,step)) is less reliable than fps for variable-frame content.
     const interval   = durationSec / FRAME_COUNT;
     const outputGlob = join(tmpDir, 'frame-%03d.jpg');