diff --git a/services/web-ui/public/screens-asset.jsx b/services/web-ui/public/screens-asset.jsx
index b66e1cc..165f3fa 100644
--- a/services/web-ui/public/screens-asset.jsx
+++ b/services/web-ui/public/screens-asset.jsx
@@ -2,18 +2,33 @@
 
 const { COMMENTS: SEED_COMMENTS } = window.ZAMPP_DATA;
 
+// Simple gradient palette — replaces the missing thumbGrad function
+const _FRAME_GRADIENTS = [
+  'linear-gradient(135deg,#1a1f2e 0%,#2a3045 100%)',
+  'linear-gradient(135deg,#1e2030 0%,#2d2040 100%)',
+  'linear-gradient(135deg,#0d1520 0%,#1a2535 100%)',
+  'linear-gradient(135deg,#1f1a2e 0%,#2a2040 100%)',
+  'linear-gradient(135deg,#0f1e18 0%,#1a3028 100%)',
+  'linear-gradient(135deg,#1e1510 0%,#302018 100%)',
+  'linear-gradient(135deg,#1a1020 0%,#281830 100%)',
+  'linear-gradient(135deg,#101828 0%,#182438 100%)',
+  'linear-gradient(135deg,#1e2820 0%,#283830 100%)',
+  'linear-gradient(135deg,#201820 0%,#302030 100%)',
+  'linear-gradient(135deg,#181e28 0%,#202838 100%)',
+];
+
 function AssetDetail({ asset, onClose }) {
   const [playing, setPlaying] = React.useState(false);
-  const [currentMs, setCurrentMs] = React.useState(720000);
+  const [currentMs, setCurrentMs] = React.useState(0);
   const [tab, setTab] = React.useState("comments");
   const [showResolved, setShowResolved] = React.useState(false);
-  const [comments, setComments] = React.useState(SEED_COMMENTS);
+  const [comments, setComments] = React.useState(SEED_COMMENTS || []);
   const [newComment, setNewComment] = React.useState("");
 
   const totalMs = parseDuration(asset.duration);
 
   React.useEffect(() => {
-    if (!playing) return;
+    if (!playing || totalMs <= 0) return;
     const i = setInterval(() => {
       setCurrentMs(t => {
         const next = t + 100;
@@ -24,7 +39,7 @@ function AssetDetail({ asset, onClose }) {
     return () => clearInterval(i);
   }, [playing, totalMs]);
 
-  const seek = (ms) => setCurrentMs(Math.max(0, Math.min(totalMs, ms)));
+  const seek = (ms) => setCurrentMs(Math.max(0, Math.min(totalMs || 0, ms)));
   const addComment = () => {
     if (!newComment.trim()) return;
     const t = msToTimecode(currentMs);
@@ -51,14 +66,12 @@ function AssetDetail({ asset, onClose }) {
           <div style={{ display: "flex", alignItems: "center", gap: 8 }}>
             <span style={{ fontWeight: 600, fontSize: 14 }}>{asset.name}</span>
             <StatusDot status={asset.status} />
-            <span className="badge accent">v3</span>
           </div>
           <div style={{ fontSize: 11.5, color: "var(--text-3)", display: "flex", gap: 6 }}>
-            <span>{asset.project}</span><span>·</span><span>{asset.bin}</span><span>·</span><span>updated {asset.updated}</span>
+            <span>{asset.project}</span><span>·</span><span>updated {asset.updated}</span>
           </div>
         </div>
         <div style={{ flex: 1 }} />
-        <button className="btn ghost sm"><Icon name="share" />Share</button>
         <button className="btn ghost sm"><Icon name="download" />Download</button>
         <button className="btn subtle sm"><Icon name="check" />Approve</button>
         <button className="icon-btn"><Icon name="more" /></button>
@@ -70,11 +83,21 @@ function AssetDetail({ asset, onClose }) {
             <div className="player-canvas">
               <FauxFrame seed={asset.seed || 1} />
               <div className="scanlines" />
-              {!playing && (
+              {!playing && totalMs > 0 && (
                 <button className="player-play-overlay" onClick={() => setPlaying(true)}>
                   <Icon name="play" size={28} />
                 </button>
               )}
+              {totalMs <= 0 && (
+                <div style={{ position: 'absolute', inset: 0, display: 'flex', alignItems: 'center', justifyContent: 'center' }}>
+                  <div style={{ textAlign: 'center', color: 'var(--text-3)' }}>
+                    <div style={{ fontSize: 13, marginBottom: 8 }}>
+                      {asset.status === 'processing' ? 'Processing…' : asset.status === 'live' ? 'Live recording in progress' : 'Preview not yet available'}
+                    </div>
+                    <StatusDot status={asset.status} />
+                  </div>
+                </div>
+              )}
               <div className="player-overlay-markers">
                 {visibleComments
                   .filter(c => Math.abs(parseDuration(c.time) - currentMs) < 200)
@@ -90,26 +113,31 @@ function AssetDetail({ asset, onClose }) {
                   <span className="badge live">LIVE · REC</span>
                 </div>
               )}
-              <div className="player-tc">
-                <span className="mono">{msToTimecode(currentMs)}</span>
-                <span style={{ opacity: 0.5 }}> / {asset.duration}</span>
+              {totalMs > 0 && (
+                <div className="player-tc">
+                  <span className="mono">{msToTimecode(currentMs)}</span>
+                  <span style={{ opacity: 0.5 }}> / {asset.duration}</span>
+                </div>
+              )}
+            </div>
+
+            {totalMs > 0 && (
+              <div className="player-controls">
+                <button className="icon-btn" onClick={() => setPlaying(p => !p)}>
+                  <Icon name={playing ? "pause" : "play"} size={14} />
+                </button>
+                <span className="mono" style={{ fontSize: 11.5, color: "var(--text-2)", minWidth: 70 }}>{msToTimecode(currentMs)}</span>
+                <PlaybackBar current={currentMs} total={totalMs} onSeek={seek} comments={visibleComments} />
+                <span className="mono" style={{ fontSize: 11.5, color: "var(--text-3)", minWidth: 70, textAlign: "right" }}>{asset.duration}</span>
+                <div style={{ width: 1, height: 18, background: "var(--border-strong)" }} />
+                <button className="icon-btn"><Icon name="audio" size={14} /></button>
+                <button className="icon-btn"><Icon name="layout" size={14} /></button>
               </div>
-            </div>
+            )}
 
-            <div className="player-controls">
-              <button className="icon-btn" onClick={() => setPlaying(p => !p)}>
-                <Icon name={playing ? "pause" : "play"} size={14} />
-              </button>
-              <span className="mono" style={{ fontSize: 11.5, color: "var(--text-2)", minWidth: 70 }}>{msToTimecode(currentMs)}</span>
-              <PlaybackBar current={currentMs} total={totalMs} onSeek={seek} comments={visibleComments} />
-              <span className="mono" style={{ fontSize: 11.5, color: "var(--text-3)", minWidth: 70, textAlign: "right" }}>{asset.duration}</span>
-              <div style={{ width: 1, height: 18, background: "var(--border-strong)" }} />
-              <button className="icon-btn"><Icon name="audio" size={14} /></button>
-              <button className="icon-btn"><Icon name="layout" size={14} /></button>
-              <button className="icon-btn"><Icon name="externalLink" size={14} /></button>
-            </div>
-
-            <FilmStrip seed={asset.seed || 1} current={currentMs} total={totalMs} onSeek={seek} comments={visibleComments} />
+            {totalMs > 0 && (
+              <FilmStrip seed={asset.seed || 1} current={currentMs} total={totalMs} onSeek={seek} comments={visibleComments} />
+            )}
           </div>
 
           <div className="asset-detail-tabs">
@@ -117,7 +145,7 @@ function AssetDetail({ asset, onClose }) {
               Comments <span className="count">{comments.length}</span>
             </button>
             <button className={tab === "versions" ? "active" : ""} onClick={() => setTab("versions")}>
-              Versions <span className="count">3</span>
+              Versions
             </button>
             <button className={tab === "metadata" ? "active" : ""} onClick={() => setTab("metadata")}>
               Metadata
@@ -125,9 +153,6 @@ function AssetDetail({ asset, onClose }) {
             <button className={tab === "audio" ? "active" : ""} onClick={() => setTab("audio")}>
               Audio
             </button>
-            <button className={tab === "activity" ? "active" : ""} onClick={() => setTab("activity")}>
-              Activity
-            </button>
             <div style={{ flex: 1 }} />
             {tab === "comments" && (
               <label className="tiny-toggle">
@@ -145,7 +170,6 @@ function AssetDetail({ asset, onClose }) {
             {tab === "versions" && <VersionsTab />}
             {tab === "metadata" && <MetadataTab asset={asset} />}
             {tab === "audio" && <AudioTab asset={asset} />}
-            {tab === "activity" && <AssetActivityTab />}
           </div>
         </div>
 
@@ -170,20 +194,21 @@ function PlaybackBar({ current, total, onSeek, comments }) {
     const p = (e.clientX - r.left) / r.width;
     onSeek(Math.max(0, Math.min(1, p)) * total);
   };
-  const pct = (current / total) * 100;
+  const pct = total > 0 ? (current / total) * 100 : 0;
   return (
     <div className="playback-bar" ref={ref} onClick={handle}>
       <div className="playback-fill" style={{ width: `${pct}%` }} />
       <div className="playback-handle" style={{ left: `${pct}%` }} />
       {comments.map(c => {
-        const x = (parseDuration(c.time) / total) * 100;
+        const ct = parseDuration(c.time);
+        if (!ct || total <= 0) return null;
+        const x = (ct / total) * 100;
         return (
           <div
             key={c.id}
             className={`playback-marker ${c.resolved ? "resolved" : ""}`}
             style={{ left: `${x}%` }}
-            data-tip={`${c.who}: ${c.text.slice(0, 40)}…`}
-            onClick={(e) => { e.stopPropagation(); onSeek(parseDuration(c.time)); }}
+            onClick={(e) => { e.stopPropagation(); onSeek(ct); }}
           >
             <span className="marker-avatar">{c.avatar}</span>
           </div>
@@ -197,23 +222,26 @@ function FilmStrip({ seed, current, total, onSeek, comments }) {
   const ref = React.useRef(null);
   const frames = 28;
   const handle = (e) => {
+    if (!ref.current || total <= 0) return;
     const r = ref.current.getBoundingClientRect();
     onSeek(((e.clientX - r.left) / r.width) * total);
   };
+  const pct = total > 0 ? (current / total) * 100 : 0;
   return (
     <div className="filmstrip-wrap">
       <div className="filmstrip" ref={ref} onClick={handle}>
         {Array.from({ length: frames }).map((_, i) => (
-          <div key={i} className="film-frame" style={{ background: window.ZAMPP_DATA.thumbGrad((seed + i) % 11) }}>
+          <div key={i} className="film-frame" style={{ background: _FRAME_GRADIENTS[(seed + i) % _FRAME_GRADIENTS.length] }}>
             <FauxFrame seed={(seed + i) % 6} />
           </div>
         ))}
-        <div className="filmstrip-playhead" style={{ left: `${(current / total) * 100}%` }} />
+        <div className="filmstrip-playhead" style={{ left: `${pct}%` }} />
         {comments.map(c => {
-          const x = (parseDuration(c.time) / total) * 100;
+          const ct = parseDuration(c.time);
+          if (!ct || total <= 0) return null;
+          const x = (ct / total) * 100;
           return (
-            <div key={c.id} className={`filmstrip-pin ${c.resolved ? "resolved" : ""}`} style={{ left: `${x}%` }}
-              data-tip={`${c.who} @ ${c.time}`}>
+            <div key={c.id} className={`filmstrip-pin ${c.resolved ? "resolved" : ""}`} style={{ left: `${x}%` }}>
               <span className="filmstrip-pin-avatar">{c.avatar}</span>
             </div>
           );
@@ -243,7 +271,7 @@ function CommentsList({ comments, onSeek, onResolve }) {
               <button className="comment-time" onClick={() => onSeek(c)}><Icon name="clock" size={10} />{c.time}</button>
               <span className="comment-when">{c.real}</span>
               <div style={{ flex: 1 }} />
-              <button className="comment-action" data-tip={c.resolved ? "Reopen" : "Resolve"} onClick={() => onResolve(c.id)}>
+              <button className="comment-action" onClick={() => onResolve(c.id)}>
                 <Icon name={c.resolved ? "refresh" : "check"} size={12} />
               </button>
             </div>
@@ -262,15 +290,14 @@ function CommentComposer({ asset, currentMs, value, onChange, onSubmit }) {
       <div className="composer-head">
         <span style={{ fontWeight: 600, fontSize: 12 }}>Reviewers</span>
         <div className="avatar-stack">
-          {["KM", "ZG", "MO", "JT"].map((a, i) => (
+          {["ZG"].map((a, i) => (
             <div key={i} className="avatar" style={{ background: avatarColor(a), width: 22, height: 22, fontSize: 10 }}>{a}</div>
           ))}
-          <button className="add-reviewer" data-tip="Add reviewer"><Icon name="plus" size={11} /></button>
+          <button className="add-reviewer"><Icon name="plus" size={11} /></button>
         </div>
       </div>
       <div className="composer-tag">
         <span className="badge accent">@ {msToTimecode(currentMs)}</span>
-        <span style={{ marginLeft: "auto", fontSize: 11, color: "var(--text-3)" }}>Drawing tools <Icon name="editor" size={10} /></span>
       </div>
       <textarea
         className="composer-input"
@@ -280,11 +307,6 @@ function CommentComposer({ asset, currentMs, value, onChange, onSubmit }) {
         onKeyDown={e => { if (e.key === "Enter" && (e.metaKey || e.ctrlKey)) onSubmit(); }}
       />
       <div className="composer-bar">
-        <div className="composer-tools">
-          <button className="icon-btn"><Icon name="image" size={13} /></button>
-          <button className="icon-btn"><Icon name="link" size={13} /></button>
-          <button className="icon-btn"><Icon name="layers" size={13} /></button>
-        </div>
         <span style={{ flex: 1 }} />
         <span style={{ fontSize: 10.5, color: "var(--text-3)" }}>⌘↵ to send</span>
         <button className="btn primary sm" onClick={onSubmit} disabled={!value.trim()}>Comment</button>
@@ -294,45 +316,23 @@ function CommentComposer({ asset, currentMs, value, onChange, onSubmit }) {
 }
 
 function VersionsTab() {
-  const versions = [
-    { v: "v3", current: true, by: "Kira Morales", when: "1h ago", note: "Color graded for sponsor compliance" },
-    { v: "v2", by: "Zach Gaetano", when: "yesterday", note: "Updated lower thirds, fixed audio dip" },
-    { v: "v1", by: "Jules Tran", when: "2d ago", note: "Initial edit from Stage_Cam_A" },
-  ];
   return (
-    <div className="versions-list">
-      {versions.map(v => (
-        <div key={v.v} className="version-row">
-          <div className="version-thumb"><FauxFrame seed={Math.random() * 6 | 0} /></div>
-          <div style={{ flex: 1 }}>
-            <div style={{ display: "flex", alignItems: "center", gap: 8 }}>
-              <span style={{ fontWeight: 600 }}>{v.v}</span>
-              {v.current && <span className="badge success">Current</span>}
-            </div>
-            <div style={{ fontSize: 11.5, color: "var(--text-3)", marginTop: 2 }}>{v.by} · {v.when}</div>
-            <div style={{ fontSize: 12.5, marginTop: 4, color: "var(--text-2)" }}>{v.note}</div>
-          </div>
-          <button className="btn ghost sm">Compare</button>
-        </div>
-      ))}
+    <div style={{ padding: 24, textAlign: 'center', color: 'var(--text-3)', fontSize: 12.5 }}>
+      Version history not yet available.
     </div>
   );
 }
 
 function MetadataTab({ asset }) {
   const rows = [
-    { k: "Filename", v: asset.name },
-    { k: "Duration", v: asset.duration },
-    { k: "Resolution", v: asset.res },
-    { k: "Frame rate", v: `${asset.fps} fps` },
-    { k: "Codec", v: asset.codec },
-    { k: "File size", v: asset.size },
-    { k: "Color space", v: "Rec. 709" },
-    { k: "Bit depth", v: "10-bit" },
-    { k: "Audio channels", v: "2.0 stereo" },
-    { k: "Audio sample rate", v: "48 kHz" },
-    { k: "Storage path", v: "s3://dragonmam/projects/protour/stage_a/master_001.mov" },
-    { k: "Checksum (xxh3)", v: "f4a8c2e9b15d3a07" },
+    { k: "Filename",   v: asset.name },
+    { k: "Duration",   v: asset.duration || '—' },
+    { k: "Resolution", v: asset.res || '—' },
+    { k: "Codec",      v: asset.codec || '—' },
+    { k: "File size",  v: asset.size || '—' },
+    { k: "Status",     v: asset.status || '—' },
+    { k: "Updated",    v: asset.updated || '—' },
+    { k: "Project",    v: asset.project || '—' },
   ];
   return (
     <div className="meta-table">
@@ -349,51 +349,35 @@ function MetadataTab({ asset }) {
 function AudioTab({ asset }) {
   return (
     <div style={{ padding: "16px 0" }}>
-      <div style={{ display: "flex", alignItems: "center", gap: 12, marginBottom: 16 }}>
-        <span style={{ fontSize: 12, fontWeight: 600 }}>Stereo Mix</span>
-        <span className="badge neutral">L</span>
-        <span className="badge neutral">R</span>
-      </div>
       <div style={{ background: "var(--bg-2)", border: "1px solid var(--border)", borderRadius: 8, padding: 16, display: "flex", flexDirection: "column", gap: 12 }}>
         <Waveform seed={3} color="var(--accent)" />
         <Waveform seed={7} color="var(--purple)" />
       </div>
-      <div style={{ marginTop: 16, fontSize: 12, color: "var(--text-3)" }}>
-        Loudness <span style={{ color: "var(--text-1)", marginLeft: 8 }}>-14.2 LUFS</span>
-        <span style={{ marginLeft: 24 }}>True peak <span style={{ color: "var(--text-1)", marginLeft: 8 }}>-1.4 dBTP</span></span>
-      </div>
-    </div>
-  );
-}
-
-function AssetActivityTab() {
-  return (
-    <div className="activity-feed" style={{ border: 0, background: "transparent" }}>
-      {window.ZAMPP_DATA.ACTIVITY.slice(0, 6).map(a => (
-        <div key={a.id} className="activity-row" style={{ paddingLeft: 0, paddingRight: 0 }}>
-          <div className={`activity-icon ${a.kind}`}><Icon name="clock" size={12} /></div>
-          <div className="activity-text"><strong>{a.who}</strong> {a.what} <span className="target">{a.target}</span></div>
-          <div className="activity-time">{a.time}</div>
-        </div>
-      ))}
     </div>
   );
 }
 
 function parseDuration(d) {
-  const [h, m, s] = d.split(":").map(Number);
-  return ((h * 60 + m) * 60 + s) * 1000;
+  if (!d || d === '—' || typeof d !== 'string') return 0;
+  const parts = d.split(':');
+  if (parts.length < 2) return 0;
+  const nums = parts.map(Number);
+  if (nums.some(isNaN)) return 0;
+  if (nums.length === 3) return ((nums[0] * 60 + nums[1]) * 60 + nums[2]) * 1000;
+  return (nums[0] * 60 + nums[1]) * 1000;
 }
+
 function msToTimecode(ms) {
-  const total = Math.floor(ms / 1000);
+  const total = Math.floor((ms || 0) / 1000);
   const h = Math.floor(total / 3600);
   const m = Math.floor((total % 3600) / 60);
   const s = total % 60;
   return `${String(h).padStart(2, "0")}:${String(m).padStart(2, "0")}:${String(s).padStart(2, "0")}`;
 }
+
 function avatarColor(initials) {
   let h = 0;
-  for (const c of initials) h = (h * 31 + c.charCodeAt(0)) & 0xff;
+  for (const c of (initials || '?')) h = (h * 31 + c.charCodeAt(0)) & 0xff;
   return `linear-gradient(135deg, hsl(${h % 360} 60% 50%), hsl(${(h + 60) % 360} 60% 45%))`;
 }