Video pipeline fixes: visibility strip, rich briefs, spotlight timing + fps (#369)

* feat(video): pipeline visibility — strip, state-aware queue, render-error capture

Task 1 of the 2026-07-09 video-pipeline review. New CEO-gated GET
/video/pipeline lists every in-flight video item (authoring statuses,
rendering attempt n/max, terminal failures with the error — now stamped
onto the video_draft marker instead of dying as a log line).
source_task_id exposed on both video schemas. Panel: pipeline strip on
the Social page, state-aware queue empty copy, title/script on queue
rows, missing cuts disabled instead of a blank player, notifications
deep-link related_task_id. MAX_VIDEO_RENDER_ATTEMPTS moved to the
markers policy layer (single source of truth).

* feat(video): rich authoring briefs — changelog section, brand voice, kit pointer

Task 2 of the 2026-07-09 video-pipeline review. The release brief is
now a structured block (full CHANGELOG section capped at 4000 chars +
highlights) instead of one LLM-compressed sentence; brand_voice and a
motion/kit design-bar pointer are appended centrally in open_video_task
so release, spotlight, and on-demand paths all inherit them.
suggested_input_props seeded on the video_draft marker; third
acceptance criterion pins the design bar; propose_video docstring
points at the kit.

* fix(video): spotlight video drafts on CEO approval, renderer honors data-fps

Task 4 of the 2026-07-09 video-pipeline review. The companion-video
hook moves from propose_feature_spotlight (HoM authoring time) to
XPostService approve's posted-success branch for x_feature drafts,
mirroring the release-publish seam — a rejected spotlight no longer
burns a ux-dev cycle; wants_video/video_script ride the x_feature_ref
marker. Best-effort: a video-engine failure never breaks the post.
render.js reads data-fps from the composition HTML (clamped 24-60,
fallback 30) instead of hardcoding 30; parseFps covered by node --test.

---------

Co-authored-by: Renn F <rennf93@users.noreply.github.com>

panel/src/app/(dashboard)/notifications/page.tsx

@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 "use client";
 
 import { Suspense, useEffect } from "react";
+import Link from "next/link";
 import { useSearchParams, useRouter } from "next/navigation";
 import {
   useNotifications,
@@ -106,6 +107,19 @@ function NotificationCard({
                   Needs Ack
                 </Badge>
               )}
+              {notification.related_task_id && (
+                <Link
+                  href={`/tasks/${notification.related_task_id}`}
+                  prefetch={false}
+                >
+                  <Badge
+                    variant="outline"
+                    className="text-xs hover:bg-muted cursor-pointer"
+                  >
+                    Task #{notification.related_task_id.slice(0, 8)}
+                  </Badge>
+                </Link>
+              )}
             </div>
             <div className="text-sm text-muted-foreground mt-1">
               <Markdown>{notification.body}</Markdown>

panel/src/app/(dashboard)/social/__tests__/page.test.tsx

@@ -10,6 +10,9 @@ import type { VideoPostHistoryEntry } from "@/lib/api/video";
 vi.mock("@/components/dashboard/x-post-queue", () => ({
   XPostQueue: () => <div>XPostQueueStub</div>,
 }));
+vi.mock("@/components/dashboard/video-pipeline-strip", () => ({
+  VideoPipelineStrip: () => <div>VideoPipelineStripStub</div>,
+}));
 vi.mock("@/components/dashboard/video-post-queue", () => ({
   VideoPostQueue: () => <div>VideoPostQueueStub</div>,
 }));
@@ -82,6 +85,7 @@ describe("SocialPage", () => {
     );
     expect(screen.getByRole("heading", { name: "Social" })).toBeInTheDocument();
     expect(screen.getByText("XPostQueueStub")).toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(screen.getByText("VideoPipelineStripStub")).toBeInTheDocument();
     expect(screen.getByText("VideoPostQueueStub")).toBeInTheDocument();
   });
 

panel/src/app/(dashboard)/social/page.tsx

@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 "use client";
 
 import { XPostQueue } from "@/components/dashboard/x-post-queue";
+import { VideoPipelineStrip } from "@/components/dashboard/video-pipeline-strip";
 import { VideoPostQueue } from "@/components/dashboard/video-post-queue";
 import { SocialHistorySection } from "@/components/dashboard/social-history-section";
 
@@ -16,6 +17,7 @@ export default function SocialPage() {
       </div>
 
       <XPostQueue />
+      <VideoPipelineStrip />
       <VideoPostQueue />
       <SocialHistorySection />
     </div>

panel/src/components/dashboard/__tests__/video-pipeline-strip.test.tsx

@@ -0,0 +1,102 @@
+import { describe, it, expect, vi, beforeEach, afterEach } from "vitest";
+import { render, screen, waitFor } from "@testing-library/react";
+import { QueryClient, QueryClientProvider } from "@tanstack/react-query";
+import type { ReactNode } from "react";
+import type { VideoPipelineItem } from "@/lib/api/video";
+
+const { listPipeline } = vi.hoisted(() => ({
+  listPipeline: vi.fn(async (): Promise<VideoPipelineItem[]> => []),
+}));
+
+vi.mock("@/lib/api", () => ({
+  videoApi: { listPipeline },
+}));
+
+import { VideoPipelineStrip } from "../video-pipeline-strip";
+
+function withQueryClient(ui: ReactNode) {
+  const client = new QueryClient({
+    defaultOptions: { queries: { retry: false } },
+  });
+  return <QueryClientProvider client={client}>{ui}</QueryClientProvider>;
+}
+
+const AUTHORING: VideoPipelineItem = {
+  task_id: "vp-1",
+  title: "Video: launch teaser",
+  occasion: "launch",
+  status: "in_progress",
+  pr_number: null,
+  composition_id: null,
+  render_status: null,
+  render_attempts: 0,
+  max_attempts: 5,
+  render_error: null,
+};
+
+const AWAITING_APPROVAL: VideoPipelineItem = {
+  ...AUTHORING,
+  task_id: "vp-2",
+  status: "awaiting_ceo_approval",
+};
+
+const RENDERING: VideoPipelineItem = {
+  ...AUTHORING,
+  task_id: "vp-3",
+  status: "completed",
+  composition_id: "Intro",
+  render_attempts: 2,
+};
+
+const FAILED: VideoPipelineItem = {
+  ...AUTHORING,
+  task_id: "vp-4",
+  status: "completed",
+  composition_id: "Intro",
+  render_status: "failed",
+  render_attempts: 5,
+  render_error: "sidecar timeout",
+};
+
+describe("VideoPipelineStrip", () => {
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    listPipeline.mockClear();
+  });
+  afterEach(() => {
+    vi.clearAllMocks();
+  });
+
+  it("renders nothing when the pipeline is empty", async () => {
+    render(withQueryClient(<VideoPipelineStrip />));
+    await waitFor(() => expect(listPipeline).toHaveBeenCalled());
+    expect(screen.queryByText("Video Pipeline")).not.toBeInTheDocument();
+  });
+
+  it("shows a stage chip per in-flight item, including the failure reason", async () => {
+    listPipeline.mockResolvedValueOnce([
+      AUTHORING,
+      AWAITING_APPROVAL,
+      RENDERING,
+      FAILED,
+    ]);
+    render(withQueryClient(<VideoPipelineStrip />));
+
+    expect(await screen.findByText("Video Pipeline")).toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(screen.getByText("Authoring")).toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(screen.getByText("Awaiting your approval")).toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(screen.getByText("Rendering (attempt 2/5)")).toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(
+      screen.getByText("Render failed: sidecar timeout"),
+    ).toBeInTheDocument();
+  });
+
+  it("deep-links only the awaiting-approval row to the task", async () => {
+    listPipeline.mockResolvedValueOnce([AUTHORING, AWAITING_APPROVAL]);
+    render(withQueryClient(<VideoPipelineStrip />));
+    await screen.findByText("Video Pipeline");
+
+    const reviewLinks = screen.getAllByRole("link", { name: "Review" });
+    expect(reviewLinks).toHaveLength(1);
+    expect(reviewLinks[0]).toHaveAttribute("href", "/tasks/vp-2");
+  });
+});

panel/src/components/dashboard/__tests__/video-pipeline-utils.test.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,115 @@
+import { describe, it, expect } from "vitest";
+import {
+  derivePipelineStage,
+  pipelineStageLabel,
+  pipelineStageColor,
+} from "../video-pipeline-utils";
+
+const BASE = {
+  status: "in_progress",
+  render_status: null,
+  render_attempts: 0,
+  max_attempts: 5,
+  render_error: null,
+};
+
+describe("derivePipelineStage", () => {
+  it.each([
+    "backlog",
+    "pending",
+    "claimed",
+    "in_progress",
+    "blocked",
+    "paused",
+    "verifying",
+    "needs_revision",
+  ])("maps %s to authoring", (status) => {
+    expect(derivePipelineStage({ ...BASE, status })).toEqual({
+      kind: "authoring",
+    });
+  });
+
+  it.each([
+    "awaiting_qa",
+    "awaiting_documentation",
+    "awaiting_pr_review",
+    "awaiting_pm_review",
+  ])("maps %s to in_review", (status) => {
+    expect(derivePipelineStage({ ...BASE, status })).toEqual({
+      kind: "in_review",
+    });
+  });
+
+  it("maps awaiting_ceo_approval to awaiting_approval", () => {
+    expect(
+      derivePipelineStage({ ...BASE, status: "awaiting_ceo_approval" }),
+    ).toEqual({ kind: "awaiting_approval" });
+  });
+
+  it("maps a completed task with no render_status to rendering, carrying attempts", () => {
+    expect(
+      derivePipelineStage({
+        ...BASE,
+        status: "completed",
+        render_status: null,
+        render_attempts: 2,
+        max_attempts: 5,
+      }),
+    ).toEqual({ kind: "rendering", attempt: 2, maxAttempts: 5 });
+  });
+
+  it("maps a completed task with render_status='failed' to render_failed, carrying the reason", () => {
+    expect(
+      derivePipelineStage({
+        ...BASE,
+        status: "completed",
+        render_status: "failed",
+        render_error: "sidecar timeout",
+      }),
+    ).toEqual({ kind: "render_failed", reason: "sidecar timeout" });
+  });
+
+  it("render_failed carries a null reason when the marker holds none", () => {
+    expect(
+      derivePipelineStage({
+        ...BASE,
+        status: "completed",
+        render_status: "failed",
+        render_error: null,
+      }),
+    ).toEqual({ kind: "render_failed", reason: null });
+  });
+});
+
+describe("pipelineStageLabel", () => {
+  it("labels every stage kind", () => {
+    expect(pipelineStageLabel({ kind: "authoring" })).toBe("Authoring");
+    expect(pipelineStageLabel({ kind: "in_review" })).toBe("In review");
+    expect(pipelineStageLabel({ kind: "awaiting_approval" })).toBe(
+      "Awaiting your approval",
+    );
+    expect(
+      pipelineStageLabel({ kind: "rendering", attempt: 2, maxAttempts: 5 }),
+    ).toBe("Rendering (attempt 2/5)");
+    expect(
+      pipelineStageLabel({ kind: "render_failed", reason: "boom" }),
+    ).toBe("Render failed: boom");
+    expect(pipelineStageLabel({ kind: "render_failed", reason: null })).toBe(
+      "Render failed",
+    );
+  });
+});
+
+describe("pipelineStageColor", () => {
+  it("returns a distinct class per stage kind", () => {
+    const stages: Parameters<typeof pipelineStageColor>[0][] = [
+      { kind: "authoring" },
+      { kind: "in_review" },
+      { kind: "awaiting_approval" },
+      { kind: "rendering", attempt: 1, maxAttempts: 5 },
+      { kind: "render_failed", reason: null },
+    ];
+    const colors = stages.map(pipelineStageColor);
+    expect(new Set(colors).size).toBe(colors.length);
+  });
+});

panel/src/components/dashboard/__tests__/video-post-queue.test.tsx

@@ -2,51 +2,68 @@ import { describe, it, expect, vi, beforeEach, afterEach } from "vitest";
 import { fireEvent, render, screen, waitFor } from "@testing-library/react";
 import { QueryClient, QueryClientProvider } from "@tanstack/react-query";
 import type { ReactNode } from "react";
-import type { VideoPost } from "@/lib/api/video";
+import type { VideoPipelineItem, VideoPost } from "@/lib/api/video";
 
 const { resolveApproveRef } = vi.hoisted(() => ({
   resolveApproveRef: { current: null as null | ((v: unknown) => void) },
 }));
 
-const { listPosts, approve, reject, requestVideo, getMediaBlob } = vi.hoisted(
+const {
-  () => ({
+  listPosts,
-    listPosts: vi.fn(
+  listPipeline,
-      async () =>
+  approve,
-        [
+  reject,
-          {
+  requestVideo,
-            task_id: "v-1",
+  getMediaBlob,
-            source: "video_post",
+} = vi.hoisted(() => ({
-            title: "Video: release v0.19.0",
+  listPosts: vi.fn(
-            status: "pending",
+    async () =>
-            occasion: "release",
+      [
-            script: "RoboCo v0.19.0 just shipped!",
+        {
-            platforms: ["x", "tiktok"],
+          task_id: "v-1",
-            x_caption: "RoboCo v0.19.0 is here!",
+          source: "video_post",
-            tiktok_caption: "New RoboCo drop!",
+          title: "Video: release v0.19.0",
+          status: "pending",
+          occasion: "release",
+          script: "RoboCo v0.19.0 just shipped!",
+          platforms: ["x", "tiktok"],
+          x_caption: "RoboCo v0.19.0 is here!",
+          tiktok_caption: "New RoboCo drop!",
+          mp4_paths: {
+            vertical: "/fake/vertical.mp4",
+            square: "/fake/square.mp4",
           },
-        ] as VideoPost[],
+        },
-    ),
+      ] as VideoPost[],
-    // Deferred so the test can freeze the approve mid-flight.
+  ),
-    approve: vi.fn(
+  listPipeline: vi.fn(async (): Promise<VideoPipelineItem[]> => []),
-      () =>
+  // Deferred so the test can freeze the approve mid-flight.
-        new Promise((r) => {
+  approve: vi.fn(
-          resolveApproveRef.current = r as (v: unknown) => void;
+    () =>
-        }),
+      new Promise((r) => {
-    ),
+        resolveApproveRef.current = r as (v: unknown) => void;
-    reject: vi.fn(async () => ({})),
+      }),
-    requestVideo: vi.fn(async () => ({
+  ),
-      status: "opened",
+  reject: vi.fn(async () => ({})),
-      task_id: "v-2",
+  requestVideo: vi.fn(async () => ({
-      detail: "Video-authoring task opened.",
+    status: "opened",
-    })),
+    task_id: "v-2",
-    getMediaBlob: vi.fn(
+    detail: "Video-authoring task opened.",
-      async () => new Blob(["fake-mp4-bytes"], { type: "video/mp4" }),
+  })),
-    ),
+  getMediaBlob: vi.fn(
-  }),
+    async () => new Blob(["fake-mp4-bytes"], { type: "video/mp4" }),
-);
+  ),
+}));
 
 vi.mock("@/lib/api", () => ({
-  videoApi: { listPosts, approve, reject, requestVideo, getMediaBlob },
+  videoApi: {
+    listPosts,
+    listPipeline,
+    approve,
+    reject,
+    requestVideo,
+    getMediaBlob,
+  },
 }));
 
 import { VideoPostQueue } from "../video-post-queue";
@@ -61,6 +78,7 @@ function withQueryClient(ui: ReactNode) {
 describe("VideoPostQueue", () => {
   beforeEach(() => {
     listPosts.mockClear();
+    listPipeline.mockClear();
     approve.mockClear();
     reject.mockClear();
     requestVideo.mockClear();
@@ -87,6 +105,46 @@ describe("VideoPostQueue", () => {
     expect(screen.getByDisplayValue("New RoboCo drop!")).toBeInTheDocument();
   });
 
+  it("shows the fetched title and script instead of dropping them", async () => {
+    render(withQueryClient(<VideoPostQueue />));
+    expect(
+      await screen.findByText("Video: release v0.19.0"),
+    ).toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(
+      screen.getByText("RoboCo v0.19.0 just shipped!"),
+    ).toBeInTheDocument();
+  });
+
+  it("flags a missing cut as disabled instead of silently blanking the player", async () => {
+    listPosts.mockResolvedValueOnce([
+      {
+        task_id: "v-1",
+        source: "video_post",
+        title: "Video: release v0.19.0",
+        status: "pending",
+        occasion: "release",
+        script: "RoboCo v0.19.0 just shipped!",
+        platforms: ["x", "tiktok"],
+        x_caption: "RoboCo v0.19.0 is here!",
+        tiktok_caption: "New RoboCo drop!",
+        mp4_paths: { vertical: "/fake/vertical.mp4" }, // square never rendered
+      },
+    ] as VideoPost[]);
+    render(withQueryClient(<VideoPostQueue />));
+    await screen.findByText("release");
+
+    const squareButton = screen.getByRole("button", { name: /1:1/ });
+    expect(squareButton).toHaveTextContent("(missing)");
+    expect(squareButton).toBeDisabled();
+    // The present cut is unaffected — no "(missing)" suffix, not disabled.
+    const verticalButton = screen.getByRole("button", { name: /9:16/ });
+    expect(verticalButton).not.toHaveTextContent("(missing)");
+    expect(verticalButton).not.toBeDisabled();
+    await waitFor(() =>
+      expect(getMediaBlob).toHaveBeenCalledWith("v-1", "vertical"),
+    );
+  });
+
   // H15: the 30s refetchInterval produces a new `post` prop, but useState
   // initializes once — so a server-side re-draft between the CEO opening the
   // card and approving would be silently overwritten by the stale initial
@@ -242,12 +300,36 @@ describe("VideoPostQueue", () => {
     );
   });
 
-  it("shows an empty-state card (with the request action) when there are no drafts", async () => {
+  it("shows the keys/engine empty copy when nothing is in the pipeline either", async () => {
     listPosts.mockResolvedValueOnce([]);
+    listPipeline.mockResolvedValueOnce([]);
     render(withQueryClient(<VideoPostQueue />));
     expect(await screen.findByText(/No drafts yet/)).toBeInTheDocument();
     expect(
       screen.getByRole("button", { name: /Request a video/ }),
     ).toBeInTheDocument();
   });
+
+  it("shows an in-flight count instead of the keys/engine copy when the pipeline is non-empty", async () => {
+    listPosts.mockResolvedValueOnce([]);
+    listPipeline.mockResolvedValueOnce([
+      {
+        task_id: "vp-1",
+        title: "Video: launch teaser",
+        occasion: "launch",
+        status: "in_progress",
+        pr_number: null,
+        composition_id: null,
+        render_status: null,
+        render_attempts: 0,
+        max_attempts: 5,
+        render_error: null,
+      },
+    ] as VideoPipelineItem[]);
+    render(withQueryClient(<VideoPostQueue />));
+    expect(
+      await screen.findByText(/1 video in flight — nothing rendered yet/),
+    ).toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(screen.queryByText(/No drafts yet/)).not.toBeInTheDocument();
+  });
 });

panel/src/components/dashboard/video-pipeline-strip.tsx

@@ -0,0 +1,87 @@
+"use client";
+
+import Link from "next/link";
+import { useQuery } from "@tanstack/react-query";
+import { videoApi } from "@/lib/api";
+import type { VideoPipelineItem } from "@/lib/api/video";
+import {
+  derivePipelineStage,
+  pipelineStageColor,
+  pipelineStageLabel,
+} from "./video-pipeline-utils";
+import {
+  Card,
+  CardContent,
+  CardDescription,
+  CardHeader,
+  CardTitle,
+} from "@/components/ui/card";
+import { Badge } from "@/components/ui/badge";
+import { Button } from "@/components/ui/button";
+import { Film } from "lucide-react";
+
+// One row: title + occasion + a colored stage chip. The stage chip is
+// derived (never fetched) from status + render_status/render_attempts —
+// see video-pipeline-utils.ts, unit-tested directly there. Only the
+// "awaiting your approval" stage deep-links out (the CEO decision the
+// pipeline is surfacing); every other stage is just visibility.
+function PipelineRow({ item }: { item: VideoPipelineItem }) {
+  const stage = derivePipelineStage(item);
+  return (
+    <div className="flex flex-wrap items-center gap-2 rounded-lg border p-3 text-sm">
+      <Film className="h-4 w-4 shrink-0 text-muted-foreground" />
+      <span className="font-medium">{item.title}</span>
+      {item.occasion && <Badge variant="outline">{item.occasion}</Badge>}
+      <Badge className={`${pipelineStageColor(stage)} text-white`}>
+        {pipelineStageLabel(stage)}
+      </Badge>
+      {stage.kind === "awaiting_approval" && (
+        <Link
+          href={`/tasks/${item.task_id}`}
+          prefetch={false}
+          className="ml-auto"
+        >
+          <Button variant="outline" size="sm">
+            Review
+          </Button>
+        </Link>
+      )}
+    </div>
+  );
+}
+
+// Social page visibility strip: every source=video item still moving
+// through authoring/review/rendering, above the Video Post Queue. Renders
+// nothing (not even an empty-state card) when the pipeline is empty — the
+// queue's own state-aware copy already covers "nothing in flight". Polls
+// on the same 30s cadence as the queue.
+export function VideoPipelineStrip({ className }: { className?: string }) {
+  const { data: items, isLoading } = useQuery({
+    queryKey: ["video", "pipeline"],
+    queryFn: () => videoApi.listPipeline(),
+    refetchInterval: 30000,
+  });
+
+  if (isLoading || !items || items.length === 0) return null;
+
+  return (
+    <Card className={className}>
+      <CardHeader>
+        <CardTitle className="flex items-center gap-2">
+          <Film className="h-5 w-5" />
+          Video Pipeline
+          <Badge variant="secondary">{items.length}</Badge>
+        </CardTitle>
+        <CardDescription>
+          Every video in flight — authoring, review, or rendering — before it
+          lands in the queue below.
+        </CardDescription>
+      </CardHeader>
+      <CardContent className="space-y-2">
+        {items.map((item) => (
+          <PipelineRow key={item.task_id} item={item} />
+        ))}
+      </CardContent>
+    </Card>
+  );
+}

panel/src/components/dashboard/video-pipeline-utils.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,84 @@
+/**
+ * Pure stage derivation for the video pipeline strip (extracted for direct
+ * unit testing). A VideoPipelineItem's `status` covers the pre-render
+ * delivery lifecycle; once it reaches COMPLETED, `render_status` /
+ * `render_attempts` (from the orchestration_markers.video_draft JSON) take
+ * over to describe the render loop's own retry/failure states.
+ */
+
+import type { VideoPipelineItem } from "@/lib/api/video";
+
+export type PipelineStage =
+  | { kind: "authoring" }
+  | { kind: "in_review" }
+  | { kind: "awaiting_approval" }
+  | { kind: "rendering"; attempt: number; maxAttempts: number }
+  | { kind: "render_failed"; reason: string | null };
+
+// Statuses between "self-verified" and "PM merges" — the dev's work is done,
+// a reviewer/PM is looking at it.
+const IN_REVIEW_STATUSES = new Set([
+  "awaiting_qa",
+  "awaiting_documentation",
+  "awaiting_pr_review",
+  "awaiting_pm_review",
+]);
+
+/**
+ * Derives the pipeline strip's stage chip from an item's raw fields. Only
+ * reads the subset of VideoPipelineItem the derivation needs, so callers
+ * (and tests) can pass a partial fixture.
+ */
+export function derivePipelineStage(
+  item: Pick<
+    VideoPipelineItem,
+    "status" | "render_status" | "render_attempts" | "max_attempts" | "render_error"
+  >,
+): PipelineStage {
+  if (item.status === "completed") {
+    if (item.render_status === "failed") {
+      return { kind: "render_failed", reason: item.render_error };
+    }
+    // render_status unset (or any non-terminal value) — still retrying.
+    return {
+      kind: "rendering",
+      attempt: item.render_attempts,
+      maxAttempts: item.max_attempts,
+    };
+  }
+  if (item.status === "awaiting_ceo_approval") return { kind: "awaiting_approval" };
+  if (IN_REVIEW_STATUSES.has(item.status)) return { kind: "in_review" };
+  return { kind: "authoring" };
+}
+
+/** Human-readable label for a stage — the chip's display text. */
+export function pipelineStageLabel(stage: PipelineStage): string {
+  switch (stage.kind) {
+    case "authoring":
+      return "Authoring";
+    case "in_review":
+      return "In review";
+    case "awaiting_approval":
+      return "Awaiting your approval";
+    case "rendering":
+      return `Rendering (attempt ${stage.attempt}/${stage.maxAttempts})`;
+    case "render_failed":
+      return stage.reason ? `Render failed: ${stage.reason}` : "Render failed";
+  }
+}
+
+/** Tailwind bg class for the stage badge — mirrors task-status-badge.tsx. */
+export function pipelineStageColor(stage: PipelineStage): string {
+  switch (stage.kind) {
+    case "authoring":
+      return "bg-blue-600";
+    case "in_review":
+      return "bg-teal-600";
+    case "awaiting_approval":
+      return "bg-amber-600";
+    case "rendering":
+      return "bg-purple-500";
+    case "render_failed":
+      return "bg-red-600";
+  }
+}

panel/src/components/dashboard/video-post-queue.tsx

@@ -83,7 +83,11 @@ function VideoPostRow({
   onReject: (post: VideoPost) => void;
   approving: boolean;
 }) {
-  const [cut, setCut] = useState<VideoCut>("vertical");
+  // Default to whichever cut actually rendered — a missing vertical cut
+  // (mp4_paths lacks the key) must not open on a guaranteed-blank player.
+  const [cut, setCut] = useState<VideoCut>(() =>
+    post.mp4_paths?.vertical ? "vertical" : "square",
+  );
   const [editX, setEditX] = useState(post.platforms.includes("x"));
   const [editTiktok, setEditTiktok] = useState(
     post.platforms.includes("tiktok"),
@@ -101,7 +105,13 @@ function VideoPostRow({
   // A native <video src> GET doesn't carry axios's auth headers, so fetch
   // the cut as a Blob (through axios) and drive <video> off an object URL
   // instead. Re-fetches on cut change; always revokes the previous URL.
+  // Skips the fetch entirely when mp4_paths has no entry for this cut — the
+  // JSX below never renders <video> in that case (falls back to a missing-
+  // cut placeholder instead), so a stale videoSrc is simply never read.
   useEffect(() => {
+    if (!post.mp4_paths?.[cut]) {
+      return;
+    }
     let cancelled = false;
     let objectUrl: string | null = null;
     videoApi
@@ -118,7 +128,7 @@ function VideoPostRow({
       cancelled = true;
       if (objectUrl) URL.revokeObjectURL(objectUrl);
     };
-  }, [post.task_id, cut]);
+  }, [post.task_id, cut, post.mp4_paths]);
 
   const xOverLimit = editX && xCaption.length > MAX_X_CAPTION_CHARS;
   const tiktokOverLimit =
@@ -140,33 +150,52 @@ function VideoPostRow({
         {post.occasion && <Badge variant="outline">{post.occasion}</Badge>}
       </div>
 
+      <p className="mb-1 text-sm font-medium">{post.title}</p>
+      {post.script && (
+        <p className="mb-3 line-clamp-2 text-sm text-muted-foreground">
+          {post.script}
+        </p>
+      )}
+
       <div className="mb-3 space-y-2">
         <div className="flex gap-2">
           <Button
             type="button"
             size="sm"
             variant={cut === "vertical" ? "default" : "outline"}
+            disabled={!post.mp4_paths?.vertical}
+            title={
+              post.mp4_paths?.vertical ? undefined : "9:16 hasn't rendered yet"
+            }
             onClick={() => setCut("vertical")}
           >
-            9:16
+            9:16{!post.mp4_paths?.vertical && " (missing)"}
           </Button>
           <Button
             type="button"
             size="sm"
             variant={cut === "square" ? "default" : "outline"}
+            disabled={!post.mp4_paths?.square}
+            title={post.mp4_paths?.square ? undefined : "1:1 hasn't rendered yet"}
             onClick={() => setCut("square")}
           >
-            1:1
+            1:1{!post.mp4_paths?.square && " (missing)"}
           </Button>
         </div>
-        <video
+        {post.mp4_paths?.[cut] ? (
-          key={`${post.task_id}-${cut}`}
+          <video
-          controls
+            key={`${post.task_id}-${cut}`}
-          className="mx-auto max-h-96 w-full rounded-md bg-black object-contain"
+            controls
-          src={videoSrc ?? undefined}
+            className="mx-auto max-h-96 w-full rounded-md bg-black object-contain"
-        >
+            src={videoSrc ?? undefined}
-          Your browser does not support embedded video.
+          >
-        </video>
+            Your browser does not support embedded video.
+          </video>
+        ) : (
+          <div className="flex h-48 items-center justify-center rounded-md border border-dashed text-sm text-muted-foreground">
+            This cut hasn&apos;t rendered yet
+          </div>
+        )}
       </div>
 
       <div className="space-y-3">
@@ -388,6 +417,14 @@ export function VideoPostQueue({ className }: { className?: string }) {
     queryFn: () => videoApi.listPosts(),
     refetchInterval: 30000,
   });
+  // Only consulted for the empty-state copy below — tells apart "nothing
+  // rendered yet, but N videos are moving through the pipeline" from a
+  // truly idle engine. Same 30s cadence as the queue + the pipeline strip.
+  const { data: pipeline } = useQuery({
+    queryKey: ["video", "pipeline"],
+    queryFn: () => videoApi.listPipeline(),
+    refetchInterval: 30000,
+  });
 
   const invalidate = () =>
     queryClient.invalidateQueries({ queryKey: ["video", "posts"] });
@@ -476,9 +513,9 @@ export function VideoPostQueue({ className }: { className?: string }) {
           </CardHeader>
           <CardContent>
             <p className="text-sm text-muted-foreground">
-              No drafts yet. Set your keys in Settings → X (Twitter) / TikTok
+              {pipeline && pipeline.length > 0
-              Credentials and enable the video engine — or request one on demand
+                ? `${pipeline.length} video${pipeline.length === 1 ? "" : "s"} in flight — nothing rendered yet. Check the pipeline above for status.`
-              above.
+                : "No drafts yet. Set your keys in Settings → X (Twitter) / TikTok Credentials and enable the video engine — or request one on demand above."}
             </p>
           </CardContent>
         </Card>

panel/src/lib/api/index.ts

@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ export { videoApi, videoMediaUrl } from "./video";
 export type {
   VideoCut,
   VideoPost,
+  VideoPipelineItem,
   VideoPostExecuteResult,
   VideoPostHistoryEntry,
   VideoRequestResult,

panel/src/lib/api/video.ts

@@ -22,6 +22,24 @@ export interface VideoPost {
   tiktok_caption?: string | null;
   reject_reason?: string | null;
   mp4_paths?: Record<string, string>;
+  source_task_id?: string | null; // the authoring task this draft rendered from
+}
+
+// One in-flight source=video authoring task — GET /video/pipeline
+// (roboco/api/routes/video.py). Spans claim through the render loop's
+// retry/failure states; a rendered task drops out (it's visible via
+// VideoPost/listPosts instead).
+export interface VideoPipelineItem {
+  task_id: string;
+  title: string;
+  occasion: string;
+  status: string;
+  pr_number: number | null;
+  composition_id: string | null;
+  render_status: string | null; // null (pending/retrying) | "rendered" | "failed"
+  render_attempts: number;
+  max_attempts: number;
+  render_error: string | null;
 }
 
 export interface VideoPostExecuteResult {
@@ -44,6 +62,7 @@ export interface VideoPostHistoryEntry {
   reject_reason?: string | null;
   posted: Record<string, string>; // platform -> posted id
   acted_at: string;
+  source_task_id?: string | null; // the authoring task this draft rendered from
 }
 
 export interface VideoRequestResult {
@@ -72,6 +91,11 @@ export const videoApi = {
     const { data } = await api.get<VideoPost[]>("/video/posts");
     return data;
   },
+  // Every in-flight source=video authoring task — the pipeline strip's basis.
+  listPipeline: async (): Promise<VideoPipelineItem[]> => {
+    const { data } = await api.get<VideoPipelineItem[]>("/video/pipeline");
+    return data;
+  },
   // Posted or rejected drafts, newest-acted-first. Fixed default limit (50);
   // no "load more" — pass a higher limit if the panel ever needs it.
   listHistory: async (limit = 50): Promise<VideoPostHistoryEntry[]> => {

roboco/api/routes/video.py

@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ from roboco.api.deps import CurrentAgentContext, DbSession, require_ceo_role
 from roboco.api.schemas.video import (
     TikTokCredentialsSetRequest,
     TikTokCredentialsStatus,
+    VideoPipelineItemResponse,
     VideoPostApproveRequest,
     VideoPostExecuteResponse,
     VideoPostHistoryResponse,
@@ -139,6 +140,7 @@ def _to_response(task: TaskTable) -> VideoPostResponse:
         tiktok_caption=draft.get("tiktok_caption"),
         reject_reason=markers.get_video_reject_reason(task),
         mp4_paths=dict(draft.get("mp4_paths") or {}),
+        source_task_id=draft.get("source_task_id"),
     )
 
 
@@ -166,6 +168,34 @@ async def list_video_posts(
     return [_to_response(t) for t in tasks]
 
 
+def _to_pipeline_item(task: TaskTable) -> VideoPipelineItemResponse:
+    draft = markers.get_video_draft(task) or {}
+    return VideoPipelineItemResponse(
+        task_id=str(task.id),
+        title=task.title,
+        occasion=str(draft.get("occasion") or ""),
+        status=_status_value(task),
+        pr_number=task.pr_number,
+        composition_id=draft.get("composition_id"),
+        render_status=draft.get("render_status"),
+        render_attempts=int(draft.get("render_attempts", 0)),
+        render_error=draft.get("render_error"),
+    )
+
+
+@router.get("/pipeline", response_model=list[VideoPipelineItemResponse])
+async def list_video_pipeline(
+    db: DbSession, agent: CurrentAgentContext
+) -> list[VideoPipelineItemResponse]:
+    """Every in-flight source=video authoring task, from claim through the
+    render loop's retry/failure states — the Social page's pipeline-
+    visibility strip. A rendered task has already materialized its
+    video_post draft (visible instead via ``/posts``) and drops out here."""
+    _require_ceo(agent)
+    tasks = await get_task_service(db).list_video_pipeline_tasks()
+    return [_to_pipeline_item(t) for t in tasks]
+
+
 def _posted_ids(draft: dict[str, Any]) -> dict[str, str]:
     """Every ``{platform}_posted_id`` key stamped by approve, keyed by
     platform (e.g. ``{"x": "..", "tiktok": ".."}``)."""
@@ -190,6 +220,7 @@ def _to_history_response(task: TaskTable) -> VideoPostHistoryResponse:
         reject_reason=markers.get_video_reject_reason(task),
         posted=_posted_ids(draft),
         acted_at=task.updated_at or task.created_at,
+        source_task_id=draft.get("source_task_id"),
     )
 
 

roboco/api/schemas/video.py

@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ from datetime import datetime
 
 from pydantic import BaseModel, Field
 
+from roboco.foundation.policy.content.markers import MAX_VIDEO_RENDER_ATTEMPTS
 from roboco.services.video_post_service import MAX_TIKTOK_CAPTION_CHARS
 from roboco.services.x_client import MAX_TWEET_CHARS
 
@@ -38,6 +39,7 @@ class VideoPostResponse(BaseModel):
     tiktok_caption: str | None = None
     reject_reason: str | None = None
     mp4_paths: dict[str, str] = Field(default_factory=dict)
+    source_task_id: str | None = None  # the authoring task this draft rendered from
 
 
 class VideoPostApproveRequest(BaseModel):
@@ -79,6 +81,26 @@ class VideoPostHistoryResponse(BaseModel):
     reject_reason: str | None = None
     posted: dict[str, str] = Field(default_factory=dict)  # platform -> posted id
     acted_at: datetime
+    source_task_id: str | None = None  # the authoring task this draft rendered from
+
+
+class VideoPipelineItemResponse(BaseModel):
+    """One in-flight source=video item — the Social page's pipeline-strip
+    basis. Spans the authoring task's whole pre-post lifecycle: any
+    non-terminal delivery status, then the render loop's retry/failure
+    states. composition_id/render_status/render_attempts/render_error live
+    in the orchestration_markers.video_draft JSON, not a column."""
+
+    task_id: str
+    title: str
+    occasion: str
+    status: str
+    pr_number: int | None = None
+    composition_id: str | None = None
+    render_status: str | None = None
+    render_attempts: int = 0
+    max_attempts: int = MAX_VIDEO_RENDER_ATTEMPTS
+    render_error: str | None = None
 
 
 class TikTokCredentialsStatus(BaseModel):

roboco/foundation/policy/content/markers.py

@@ -228,8 +228,17 @@ def set_roadmap_cycle(task: HasMarkers, payload: dict[str, Any]) -> None:
 # The video engine's working payload, carried on both the UX/UI authoring task
 # (source=video) and the held post draft it later produces (source=video_post):
 # {occasion, script, composition_id, input_props, mp4_paths, x_caption,
-# tiktok_caption, platforms, render_status}. Set once at authoring-open time
+# tiktok_caption, platforms, render_status, render_attempts, render_error,
-# and extended (not replaced) once rendering fills in the mp4/caption fields.
+# source_task_id}. Set once at authoring-open time and extended (not replaced)
+# once rendering fills in the mp4/caption fields.
+
+# Bounded retry for the video render loop: a failed render (read-clone not yet
+# synced to the just-merged composition, or a transient sidecar blip) retries
+# on a later cycle; only after this many attempts is a task marked terminally
+# failed, so a genuinely broken composition can't re-render forever. Single
+# source of truth for the orchestrator's render loop AND the pipeline-strip
+# API — importable from both without the API importing the orchestrator.
+MAX_VIDEO_RENDER_ATTEMPTS = 5
 
 
 def get_video_draft(task: HasMarkers) -> dict[str, Any] | None:

roboco/mcp/do_server.py

@@ -630,6 +630,12 @@ def propose_video(
     """UX/UI dev: propose your video's composition + captions. Metadata only —
     this does NOT render (rendering happens later, off this path).
 
+    Before authoring, read motion/README.md for the design bar and
+    motion/kit/README.md for the panel-demo kit — build in the panel-demo
+    register on motion/kit/ (extend motion/compositions/panel-demo/) rather
+    than starting from scratch or shipping a text card, unless the occasion
+    has no product visual to show.
+
     Call this exactly ONCE per authoring task, after building the HyperFrames
     composition in motion/compositions/<id>/. Then commit + open_pr to send
     it through the normal PR-review gate.

roboco/runtime/orchestrator.py

@@ -793,11 +793,10 @@ def _is_non_dev_dispatch_source(task: dict[str, Any]) -> bool:
     return task.get("source") in (ROADMAP_SOURCE, X_FEATURE_EXPLORATION_SOURCE)
 
 
-# Bounded retry for the video render loop: a failed render (read-clone not yet
+# Bounded retry for the video render loop — single source of truth lives in
-# synced to the just-merged composition, or a transient sidecar blip) retries on
+# the policy/markers layer (importable from API code without importing this
-# a later cycle; only after this many attempts is a task marked terminally
+# orchestrator module); mirrored here under the historical name.
-# failed, so a genuinely broken composition can't re-render forever.
+_MAX_VIDEO_RENDER_ATTEMPTS = _markers.MAX_VIDEO_RENDER_ATTEMPTS
-_MAX_VIDEO_RENDER_ATTEMPTS = 5
 
 
 class AgentOrchestrator:
@@ -8056,7 +8055,7 @@ Start by:
         except Exception as exc:
             attempts = int(draft.get("render_attempts", 0)) + 1
             terminal = attempts >= _MAX_VIDEO_RENDER_ATTEMPTS
-            payload = {**draft, "render_attempts": attempts}
+            payload = {**draft, "render_attempts": attempts, "render_error": str(exc)}
             if terminal:
                 payload["render_status"] = "failed"
             markers.set_video_draft(task, payload)
@@ -8136,7 +8135,9 @@ Start by:
             },
             platforms=draft.get("platforms") or [],
         )
-        markers.set_video_draft(task, {**draft, "render_status": "rendered"})
+        rendered_payload = {**draft, "render_status": "rendered"}
+        rendered_payload.pop("render_error", None)  # clear any prior-attempt error
+        markers.set_video_draft(task, rendered_payload)
 
     async def _load_dep_update_set(self, db: Any) -> list[Any]:
         """Projects with a ``dep_update_command`` + a git_url, one per

roboco/services/gateway/content_actions.py

@@ -1313,11 +1313,14 @@ class ContentActions:
         feature hasn't already been covered, then materializes the held X-queue
         draft and completes the caller's exploration task. One call per cycle.
 
-        ``wants_video`` optionally requests a companion video (gated on
+        ``wants_video`` optionally requests a companion video. The video
-        ``video_engine_enabled AND video_on_spotlight``, on top of this
+        authoring task no longer opens here — it opens later, at CEO-approve
-        default-False param) — a best-effort side effect that never disturbs
+        time (``XPostService._open_spotlight_video``, gated on
-        the spotlight draft above. Defaults leave the flow byte-for-byte
+        ``video_engine_enabled AND video_on_spotlight``), so a ux-dev never
-        unchanged.
+        burns a cycle on a spotlight the CEO then rejects. This verb only
+        records the request (+ optional script) on the draft's
+        ``x_feature_ref`` marker for approve time to read. Defaults leave the
+        flow byte-for-byte unchanged.
         """
         role = await self._caller_role(agent_id)
         if role not in _FEATURE_SPOTLIGHT_ROLES:
@@ -1365,11 +1368,22 @@ class ContentActions:
             feature_title=feature_title,
             body=body,
         )
-        video_armed = settings.video_engine_enabled and settings.video_on_spotlight
+        if wants_video:
-        if wants_video and video_armed:
+            # Gating (video_engine_enabled AND video_on_spotlight) and the
-            await self._open_spotlight_video(
+            # actual open_video_task call happen later, at CEO-approve time —
-                feature_slug, feature_title, body, video_script
+            # see XPostService._open_spotlight_video. Stash the request here
+            # so approve time has it; slug/title are already on this ref from
+            # materialize_feature_spotlight above, so re-set alongside them.
+            markers.set_x_feature_ref(
+                new_task,
+                {
+                    "slug": feature_slug,
+                    "title": feature_title,
+                    "wants_video": True,
+                    "video_script": video_script.strip(),
+                },
             )
+            await self.task.session.flush()
         return Envelope.ok(
             status="feature_spotlight_proposed",
             task_id=str(new_task.id),
@@ -1380,25 +1394,6 @@ class ContentActions:
             },
         )
 
-    async def _open_spotlight_video(
-        self, feature_slug: str, feature_title: str, body: str, video_script: str
-    ) -> None:
-        """Best-effort: a spotlight video failure must never break the
-        spotlight draft that already materialized above. HoM decides *what*
-        (this brief); UX/UI later builds *how* (the composition)."""
-        try:
-            from roboco.services.video_engine import get_video_engine
-
-            feature_brief = f"{feature_title}: {body}"
-            await get_video_engine(self.task.session).open_video_task(
-                occasion=f"spotlight {feature_slug}",
-                script=video_script.strip() or feature_brief,
-                platforms=["x", "tiktok"],
-                brief=feature_brief,
-            )
-        except Exception as exc:
-            logger.warning("spotlight video draft failed (best-effort)", error=str(exc))
-
     @classmethod
     def _reject_caption(
         cls, value: str, *, field: str, max_chars: int

roboco/services/task.py

@@ -1482,6 +1482,39 @@ class TaskService(BaseService):
         )
         return list(result.scalars().all())
 
+    async def list_video_pipeline_tasks(self) -> list[TaskTable]:
+        """Every source=VIDEO_SOURCE authoring task still visible in the
+        Social page's pipeline strip: any non-terminal status, plus
+        COMPLETED tasks the render loop hasn't finished with (render_status
+        unset — pending/retrying — or terminally "failed"). A rendered
+        COMPLETED task already materialized its video_post draft and drops
+        out of view. composition_id/render_status/render_attempts live in
+        the JSON marker, not a column, so that half of the filter runs in
+        Python on this bounded scan (mirrors list_completed_video_tasks).
+        Newest-first + bounded, so a large old backlog can't crowd a
+        currently-active item out of the scanned window; the panel can
+        re-order for display.
+        """
+        from roboco.config import settings
+
+        result = await self.session.execute(
+            select(TaskTable)
+            .where(
+                TaskTable.source == VIDEO_SOURCE,
+                TaskTable.status != TaskStatus.CANCELLED,
+            )
+            .order_by(TaskTable.created_at.desc())
+            .limit(settings.video_render_scan_limit)
+        )
+        tasks = list(result.scalars().all())
+        return [
+            t
+            for t in tasks
+            if t.status != TaskStatus.COMPLETED
+            or (markers.get_video_draft(t) or {}).get("render_status")
+            in (None, "failed")
+        ]
+
     async def list_open_video_post_drafts(self) -> list[TaskTable]:
         """Non-terminal video_post held drafts only (excludes the video
         authoring source) — the panel-queue basis for VideoPostService,

roboco/services/video_engine.py

@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ while the flag is off.
 
 from __future__ import annotations
 
-from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, cast
+from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Any, cast
 
 import httpx
 
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ from roboco.foundation import identity as _foundation
 from roboco.foundation.policy.content import markers
 from roboco.models.base import Complexity, TaskNature, TaskStatus, TaskType, Team
 from roboco.services.base import BaseService
+from roboco.services.company_goals import get_company_goals_service
 from roboco.services.project import get_project_service
 from roboco.services.task import (
     VIDEO_POST_SOURCE,
@@ -46,11 +47,26 @@ if TYPE_CHECKING:
 _AUTHORING_ACCEPTANCE_CRITERIA = [
     "Both 9:16 and 1:1 cuts render",
     "Captions within platform limits",
+    "Composition follows motion/README.md's design bar and uses the "
+    "panel-demo kit register where the occasion shows the product",
 ]
 _POST_ACCEPTANCE_CRITERIA = ["CEO approves or rejects the draft"]
 
 _CHAT_TIMEOUT_SECONDS = 60.0
 
+# The whole CHANGELOG section for a release, not one bullet — capped so a
+# pathological entry can't blow up the task description.
+_CHANGELOG_BRIEF_CHARS = 4000
+
+# Shared by every open_video_task caller (release/spotlight/on-demand) so the
+# authoring dev always lands on the demo kit instead of a text card.
+_MOTION_DESIGN_POINTER = (
+    "Before authoring: read motion/README.md's design bar and motion/kit/"
+    "README.md. Build in the panel-demo register on motion/kit/ — extend "
+    "compositions/panel-demo/ rather than starting from scratch or shipping "
+    "a text card."
+)
+
 
 async def _chat(prompt: str) -> str | None:
     """One local-LLM chat call (OpenAI-compatible); None on a non-success.
@@ -77,16 +93,24 @@ async def _chat(prompt: str) -> str | None:
         return content if isinstance(content, str) else None
 
 
-def _first_changelog_bullet(changelog: str) -> str:
+def _changelog_highlights(changelog: str) -> list[str]:
-    """First CHANGELOG bullet's text, or "" if none — the fallback template's
+    """Every bullet line in a CHANGELOG section, in order — the structured
-    headline when the local model is unavailable."""
+    highlights list a composition's props.js can render directly."""
+    highlights = []
     for line in changelog.splitlines():
         stripped = line.strip()
         if stripped.startswith(("-", "*")):
             text = stripped.lstrip("-*").strip()
             if text:
-                return text
+                highlights.append(text)
-    return ""
+    return highlights
+
+
+def _first_changelog_bullet(changelog: str) -> str:
+    """First CHANGELOG bullet's text, or "" if none — the fallback template's
+    headline when the local model is unavailable."""
+    highlights = _changelog_highlights(changelog)
+    return highlights[0] if highlights else ""
 
 
 def _fallback_release_script(version: str, changelog: str) -> str:
@@ -106,6 +130,19 @@ def _release_video_prompt(version: str, changelog: str) -> str:
     )
 
 
+def _release_video_brief(version: str, changelog: str, highlights: list[str]) -> str:
+    """The structured release brief: the (capped) CHANGELOG section for this
+    version plus its highlights list — replaces the old one-liner-as-
+    description. The LLM script stays a separate ``script`` prop suggestion,
+    never the whole brief."""
+    section = changelog[:_CHANGELOG_BRIEF_CHARS].strip() or "(no changelog entry)"
+    parts = [f"RoboCo v{version} release notes:", section]
+    if highlights:
+        bullets = "\n".join(f"- {h}" for h in highlights)
+        parts.append(f"Highlights:\n{bullets}")
+    return "\n\n".join(parts)
+
+
 class VideoEngine(BaseService):
     """Open video-authoring tasks (event hooks + on-demand), both gated."""
 
@@ -161,8 +198,39 @@ class VideoEngine(BaseService):
 
     # ---- authoring task (event hooks + on-demand) --------------------------
 
+    async def _brand_voice_note(self) -> str:
+        """CEO-supplied brand-voice sample from the company charter, or ""
+        when unset. Same ``company_goals.brand_voice`` read x_engine's
+        ``_voice_guide`` uses, duplicated locally per this service's
+        no-cross-service-internals policy."""
+        charter = await get_company_goals_service(self.session).get()
+        return (charter.get("brand_voice") or "").strip()
+
+    async def _enrich_brief(self, brief: str) -> str:
+        """Append the CEO's brand-voice sample (when set) and the motion
+        design-bar pointer to any occasion's brief.
+
+        The one seam shared by the release, spotlight, and on-demand callers
+        of ``open_video_task`` — each supplies only its own content, and all
+        three inherit the same enrichment here rather than duplicating it
+        per caller (on-demand's caller, the ``/video/request`` route, passes
+        its brief through verbatim, so this is the only place it can land).
+        """
+        parts = [brief]
+        brand_voice = await self._brand_voice_note()
+        if brand_voice:
+            parts.append(f"Brand voice (from the CEO's charter):\n{brand_voice}")
+        parts.append(_MOTION_DESIGN_POINTER)
+        return "\n\n".join(parts)
+
     async def open_video_task(
-        self, *, occasion: str, script: str, platforms: list[str], brief: str
+        self,
+        *,
+        occasion: str,
+        script: str,
+        platforms: list[str],
+        brief: str,
+        suggested_input_props: dict[str, Any] | None = None,
     ) -> TaskTable | None:
         """Originate ONE UX/UI authoring task for a bespoke video, or None.
 
@@ -173,6 +241,13 @@ class VideoEngine(BaseService):
         delivery task (``source=VIDEO_SOURCE``, ``confirmed_by_human=True``)
         — NOT held — so it dispatches straight to the assigned ux-dev like any
         other pre-assigned code task.
+
+        ``brief`` is enriched (brand-voice + motion design-bar pointer
+        appended) before becoming the task description and the marker's
+        ``brief`` field. ``suggested_input_props`` (e.g. ``{"version": ...,
+        "highlights": [...]}`` from the release caller) is seeded onto the
+        marker as-is so the dev copies real structured data into
+        ``propose_video``'s ``input_props`` instead of hand-typing facts.
         """
         if not settings.video_engine_enabled:
             return None
@@ -194,6 +269,7 @@ class VideoEngine(BaseService):
         from sqlalchemy.exc import SQLAlchemyError
 
         assignee = self._select_ux_dev(open_tasks)
+        enriched_brief = await self._enrich_brief(brief)
         # Savepoint-isolate the insert: a DBAPI error here (FK, deadlock,
         # dropped connection) must roll back ONLY this insert, never poison the
         # shared session — whose next commit is the caller's release-publish
@@ -203,7 +279,7 @@ class VideoEngine(BaseService):
                 task = await task_svc.create(
                     TaskCreateRequest(
                         title=f"Video: {occasion}",
-                        description=brief,
+                        description=enriched_brief,
                         acceptance_criteria=list(_AUTHORING_ACCEPTANCE_CRITERIA),
                         team=Team.UX_UI,
                         assigned_to=assignee,
@@ -227,7 +303,8 @@ class VideoEngine(BaseService):
                         "occasion": occasion,
                         "script": script,
                         "platforms": platforms,
-                        "brief": brief,
+                        "brief": enriched_brief,
+                        "suggested_input_props": dict(suggested_input_props or {}),
                     },
                 )
                 await self.session.flush()
@@ -258,15 +335,23 @@ class VideoEngine(BaseService):
         Called from ``ReleaseProposalService.approve()``'s publish success
         branch, right beside the X-post draft hook — never invoked by a loop
         itself.
+
+        The brief is the structured changelog block (built independent of
+        the local model, so it stands even when the model is down); the
+        LLM-drafted (or template-fallback) one-liner is only the ``script``
+        prop suggestion, never the whole brief.
         """
         if not (settings.video_engine_enabled and settings.video_on_release):
             return None
         script = await self._draft_release_script(version, changelog)
+        highlights = _changelog_highlights(changelog)
+        brief = _release_video_brief(version, changelog, highlights)
         return await self.open_video_task(
             occasion=f"release {version}",
             script=script,
             platforms=["x", "tiktok"],
-            brief=script,
+            brief=brief,
+            suggested_input_props={"version": version, "highlights": highlights},
         )
 
     async def _draft_release_script(self, version: str, changelog: str) -> str:

roboco/services/x_post_service.py

@@ -9,6 +9,12 @@ second approve is a no-op that returns the already-posted result. Rejecting
 records the reason and CANCELS the draft (unlike the release proposal there is
 no revision workflow here — the CEO edits inline and re-approves, or a fresh
 draft is originated on the next cycle/release).
+
+A successfully-posted ``x_feature`` (spotlight) draft additionally fires
+``_open_spotlight_video`` — the companion-video hook moved here from
+authoring time (``propose_feature_spotlight``) so it only fires once the CEO
+has actually approved the spotlight, mirroring the
+``ReleaseProposalService.approve`` -> ``_draft_video`` seam.
 """
 
 from __future__ import annotations
@@ -24,7 +30,7 @@ from roboco.config import settings
 from roboco.foundation.policy.content import markers
 from roboco.models.base import TaskStatus
 from roboco.services.base import BaseService
-from roboco.services.task import X_SOURCES, get_task_service
+from roboco.services.task import X_FEATURE_SOURCE, X_SOURCES, get_task_service
 from roboco.services.x_client import MAX_TWEET_CHARS, build_x_client
 from roboco.services.x_credentials import get_x_credentials_service
 
@@ -188,10 +194,48 @@ class XPostService(BaseService):
         # release — otherwise a racing approve could acquire the lock the
         # instant we drop it and double-post before the route-level commit.
         await self.session.commit()
+        if task.source == X_FEATURE_SOURCE:
+            await self._open_spotlight_video(task, body)
         return XPostExecuteResult(
             status="posted", tweet_id=result.tweet_id, detail=result.detail
         )
 
+    async def _open_spotlight_video(self, task: TaskTable, posted_body: str) -> None:
+        """Mirrors ``ReleaseProposalService._draft_video``: a best-effort side
+        effect after the post has already succeeded, never allowed to affect
+        the result above. Moved here from authoring time
+        (``propose_feature_spotlight``) so a ux-dev never burns a delivery
+        cycle on a spotlight video for a draft the CEO ends up rejecting —
+        this only fires once the tweet is actually live.
+
+        Fires only when the draft's ``x_feature_ref`` marker carries
+        ``wants_video`` (stamped by ``propose_feature_spotlight``) and both
+        ``video_engine_enabled`` and ``video_on_spotlight`` are on.
+        ``open_video_task``'s own occasion-dedup covers a hypothetical repeat
+        call; the COMPLETED short-circuit in ``approve()`` already prevents
+        ``_post`` (and so this) from running twice for the same draft.
+        """
+        if not (settings.video_engine_enabled and settings.video_on_spotlight):
+            return
+        ref = markers.get_x_feature_ref(task) or {}
+        if not ref.get("wants_video"):
+            return
+        feature_slug = str(ref.get("slug") or "")
+        feature_title = str(ref.get("title") or "")
+        video_script = str(ref.get("video_script") or "")
+        try:
+            from roboco.services.video_engine import get_video_engine
+
+            feature_brief = f"{feature_title}: {posted_body}"
+            await get_video_engine(self.session).open_video_task(
+                occasion=f"spotlight {feature_slug}",
+                script=video_script.strip() or feature_brief,
+                platforms=["x", "tiktok"],
+                brief=feature_brief,
+            )
+        except Exception as exc:
+            logger.warning("spotlight video draft failed (best-effort): %s", exc)
+
     async def reject(self, task_id: UUID, reason: str) -> TaskTable | None:
         """Record the CEO's reason and cancel the draft (never posted)."""
         task = await get_task_service(self.session).get(task_id)

tests/integration/test_video_routes.py

@@ -45,6 +45,7 @@ SYSTEM_UUID = _foundation.AGENTS["system"].uuid
 UX_DEV_1_UUID = _foundation.AGENTS["ux-dev-1"].uuid
 UX_DEV_2_UUID = _foundation.AGENTS["ux-dev-2"].uuid
 HISTORY_LIMIT = 2
+RETRY_ATTEMPTS = 2
 
 
 async def _seed(session: AsyncSession) -> None:
@@ -168,6 +169,55 @@ async def _seed_draft(
     return task
 
 
+async def _seed_authoring_task(
+    session: AsyncSession,
+    *,
+    status: TaskStatus = TaskStatus.IN_PROGRESS,
+    draft_extra: dict[str, object] | None = None,
+    pr_number: int | None = None,
+) -> TaskTable:
+    """A ``source=video`` UX/UI authoring task — the pipeline route's basis.
+    Mirrors ``_seed_draft`` but for the pre-render authoring stage."""
+    system = await _seed_agent(session, AgentRole.SYSTEM, "system")
+    ux_dev = await _seed_agent(session, AgentRole.DEVELOPER, "ux-dev")
+    project = ProjectTable(
+        id=uuid4(),
+        name="RoboCo",
+        slug=f"roboco-{uuid4().hex[:6]}",
+        git_url="https://example.com/roboco.git",
+        assigned_cell=Team.UX_UI,
+        created_by=system.id,
+    )
+    session.add(project)
+    await session.flush()
+    task = TaskTable(
+        id=uuid4(),
+        title="Video: launch teaser",
+        description="A short teaser for the launch",
+        acceptance_criteria=["dev builds the composition"],
+        status=status,
+        priority=2,
+        task_type=TaskType.CODE,
+        nature=TaskNature.TECHNICAL,
+        estimated_complexity=Complexity.LOW,
+        project_id=project.id,
+        created_by=system.id,
+        assigned_to=ux_dev.id,
+        team=Team.UX_UI,
+        source=VIDEO_SOURCE,
+        confirmed_by_human=True,
+        pr_number=pr_number,
+    )
+    session.add(task)
+    await session.flush()
+    markers.set_video_draft(
+        task,
+        {"occasion": "launch teaser", "script": "script", **(draft_extra or {})},
+    )
+    await session.flush()
+    return task
+
+
 def _build_app(
     db_session: AsyncSession | None, role: AgentRole, agent_id: UUID
 ) -> FastAPI:
@@ -304,6 +354,139 @@ async def test_list_posts_returns_open_draft(
     }
 
 
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_list_posts_includes_source_task_id(
+    db_session: AsyncSession, ceo_client: AsyncClient
+) -> None:
+    """source_task_id round-trips from the marker to the response — the
+    panel's basis for a future draft->authoring-task deep link."""
+    source_task_id = uuid4()
+    task = await _seed_draft(db_session)
+    draft = markers.get_video_draft(task) or {}
+    markers.set_video_draft(task, {**draft, "source_task_id": str(source_task_id)})
+    await db_session.flush()
+    resp = await ceo_client.get("/api/video/posts")
+    assert resp.status_code == HTTPStatus.OK
+    body = resp.json()
+    assert body[0]["source_task_id"] == str(source_task_id)
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_history_includes_source_task_id(
+    db_session: AsyncSession, ceo_client: AsyncClient
+) -> None:
+    source_task_id = uuid4()
+    task = await _seed_draft(db_session)
+    draft = markers.get_video_draft(task) or {}
+    markers.set_video_draft(task, {**draft, "source_task_id": str(source_task_id)})
+    await db_session.flush()
+    with _LOCKED[0], _LOCKED[1]:
+        await ceo_client.post(
+            f"/api/video/posts/{task.id}/reject", json={"reason": "off-brand"}
+        )
+    resp = await ceo_client.get("/api/video/posts/history")
+    body = resp.json()
+    row = next(r for r in body if r["task_id"] == str(task.id))
+    assert row["source_task_id"] == str(source_task_id)
+
+
+# --- pipeline strip (task 1, 2026-07-09) --------------------------------------
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_pipeline_lists_non_terminal_authoring_task(
+    db_session: AsyncSession, ceo_client: AsyncClient
+) -> None:
+    task = await _seed_authoring_task(db_session, status=TaskStatus.IN_PROGRESS)
+    resp = await ceo_client.get("/api/video/pipeline")
+    assert resp.status_code == HTTPStatus.OK
+    body = resp.json()
+    row = next(r for r in body if r["task_id"] == str(task.id))
+    assert row["status"] == "in_progress"
+    assert row["occasion"] == "launch teaser"
+    assert row["render_status"] is None
+    assert row["render_attempts"] == 0
+    assert row["max_attempts"] == markers.MAX_VIDEO_RENDER_ATTEMPTS
+    assert row["render_error"] is None
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_pipeline_shows_completed_unrendered_with_attempts(
+    db_session: AsyncSession, ceo_client: AsyncClient
+) -> None:
+    """A COMPLETED authoring task the render loop hasn't finished with
+    (render_status unset) stays visible with its retry count."""
+    task = await _seed_authoring_task(
+        db_session,
+        status=TaskStatus.COMPLETED,
+        draft_extra={"composition_id": "Intro", "render_attempts": RETRY_ATTEMPTS},
+    )
+    resp = await ceo_client.get("/api/video/pipeline")
+    body = resp.json()
+    row = next(r for r in body if r["task_id"] == str(task.id))
+    assert row["render_attempts"] == RETRY_ATTEMPTS
+    assert row["render_status"] is None
+    assert row["composition_id"] == "Intro"
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_pipeline_shows_failed_render_with_error(
+    db_session: AsyncSession, ceo_client: AsyncClient
+) -> None:
+    task = await _seed_authoring_task(
+        db_session,
+        status=TaskStatus.COMPLETED,
+        draft_extra={
+            "composition_id": "Intro",
+            "render_status": "failed",
+            "render_attempts": markers.MAX_VIDEO_RENDER_ATTEMPTS,
+            "render_error": "sidecar timeout",
+        },
+    )
+    resp = await ceo_client.get("/api/video/pipeline")
+    body = resp.json()
+    row = next(r for r in body if r["task_id"] == str(task.id))
+    assert row["render_status"] == "failed"
+    assert row["render_attempts"] == markers.MAX_VIDEO_RENDER_ATTEMPTS
+    assert row["render_error"] == "sidecar timeout"
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_pipeline_excludes_rendered_completed_task(
+    db_session: AsyncSession, ceo_client: AsyncClient
+) -> None:
+    """A rendered task already materialized its video_post draft — it must
+    not double-appear in the pipeline strip."""
+    task = await _seed_authoring_task(
+        db_session,
+        status=TaskStatus.COMPLETED,
+        draft_extra={"composition_id": "Intro", "render_status": "rendered"},
+    )
+    resp = await ceo_client.get("/api/video/pipeline")
+    ids = [row["task_id"] for row in resp.json()]
+    assert str(task.id) not in ids
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_pipeline_excludes_cancelled_task(
+    db_session: AsyncSession, ceo_client: AsyncClient
+) -> None:
+    task = await _seed_authoring_task(db_session, status=TaskStatus.CANCELLED)
+    resp = await ceo_client.get("/api/video/pipeline")
+    ids = [row["task_id"] for row in resp.json()]
+    assert str(task.id) not in ids
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_pipeline_non_ceo_is_forbidden(db_session: AsyncSession) -> None:
+    app = _build_app(db_session, AgentRole.DEVELOPER, uuid4())
+    transport = ASGITransport(app=app)
+    async with AsyncClient(transport=transport, base_url="http://test") as client:
+        resp = await client.get("/api/video/pipeline")
+    assert resp.status_code == HTTPStatus.FORBIDDEN
+    app.dependency_overrides.clear()
+
+
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
 async def test_media_returns_the_rendered_cut(
     db_session: AsyncSession,

tests/unit/gateway/test_content_actions_feature_spotlight.py

@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ from uuid import uuid4
 
 import pytest
 from roboco.config import settings as cfg
+from roboco.foundation.policy.content import markers
 from roboco.services.gateway.content_actions import ContentActions, ContentActionsDeps
 
 
@@ -181,13 +182,20 @@ async def test_propose_feature_spotlight_materializes_new_draft_task(
 
 
 # --------------------------------------------------------------------------- #
-# wants_video companion — additive, default-False, best-effort
+# wants_video companion — additive, default-False. Task 4 (2026-07-09 pipeline
+# fixes) moved the actual video-authoring open OFF authoring time and onto
+# XPostService.approve (see test_x_post_service.py), so this verb only stamps
+# the request onto the draft's x_feature_ref marker and never touches the
+# video engine itself, regardless of wants_video or the video flags.
 # --------------------------------------------------------------------------- #
 
 
-def _mock_spotlight_materialization(monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch) -> Any:
+def _mock_spotlight_materialization(
+    monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch,
+) -> tuple[Any, Any]:
     """Wire an open exploration + a materializing XEngine, mirroring the happy
-    path above, so wants_video tests only need to stub the video engine."""
+    path above, so wants_video tests only need to inspect the returned draft's
+    marker (or stub the video engine to prove it's never called)."""
     agent_id = uuid4()
     exploration = _FakeTask(assigned_to=agent_id)
     task_svc = MagicMock()
@@ -199,57 +207,51 @@ def _mock_spotlight_materialization(monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch) -> Any:
     x_engine.is_feature_seen = AsyncMock(return_value=False)
     x_engine.materialize_feature_spotlight = AsyncMock(return_value=materialized)
     monkeypatch.setattr("roboco.services.x_engine.get_x_engine", lambda _s: x_engine)
-    return agent_id
+    return agent_id, materialized
 
 
-def _mock_video_engine(monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch) -> MagicMock:
+def _actions_with_flushable_session(role: str) -> ContentActions:
+    """``_actions`` with ``task.session.flush`` made awaitable — needed once
+    ``wants_video`` triggers the marker-write flush in
+    ``propose_feature_spotlight`` (mirrors the same pattern in
+    test_content_actions_roadmap.py)."""
+    actions = _actions(role)
+    actions.task.session.flush = AsyncMock()
+    return actions
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_propose_feature_spotlight_never_opens_video_task(
+    monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch,
+) -> None:
+    """Even with both video flags on and wants_video=True, this verb never
+    opens a video-authoring task — that now happens at CEO-approve time."""
+    monkeypatch.setattr(cfg, "video_engine_enabled", True)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(cfg, "video_on_spotlight", True)
+    agent_id, _materialized = _mock_spotlight_materialization(monkeypatch)
     video_engine = MagicMock()
     video_engine.open_video_task = AsyncMock(return_value=MagicMock())
     monkeypatch.setattr(
         "roboco.services.video_engine.get_video_engine", lambda _s: video_engine
     )
-    return video_engine
 
-
+    env = await _actions_with_flushable_session(
-def _enable_video(monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch) -> None:
+        "head_marketing"
-    monkeypatch.setattr(cfg, "video_engine_enabled", True)
+    ).propose_feature_spotlight(agent_id=agent_id, **_valid_kwargs(), wants_video=True)
-    monkeypatch.setattr(cfg, "video_on_spotlight", True)
-
-
-@pytest.mark.asyncio
-async def test_propose_feature_spotlight_wants_video_opens_video_task(
-    monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch,
-) -> None:
-    _enable_video(monkeypatch)
-    agent_id = _mock_spotlight_materialization(monkeypatch)
-    video_engine = _mock_video_engine(monkeypatch)
-
-    env = await _actions("head_marketing").propose_feature_spotlight(
-        agent_id=agent_id, **_valid_kwargs(), wants_video=True
-    )
 
     assert env.error is None
-    video_engine.open_video_task.assert_awaited_once()
+    video_engine.open_video_task.assert_not_called()
-    kwargs = video_engine.open_video_task.call_args.kwargs
-    assert kwargs["occasion"] == "spotlight org-memory"
-    assert kwargs["platforms"] == ["x", "tiktok"]
-    expected_brief = (
-        "Organizational Memory Loop: Did you know RoboCo agents learn from "
-        "every completed task?"
-    )
-    assert kwargs["brief"] == expected_brief
-    assert kwargs["script"] == expected_brief  # falls back — no video_script given
 
 
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
-async def test_propose_feature_spotlight_wants_video_uses_explicit_script(
+async def test_propose_feature_spotlight_wants_video_stamps_marker(
     monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch,
 ) -> None:
-    _enable_video(monkeypatch)
+    agent_id, materialized = _mock_spotlight_materialization(monkeypatch)
-    agent_id = _mock_spotlight_materialization(monkeypatch)
-    video_engine = _mock_video_engine(monkeypatch)
 
-    env = await _actions("head_marketing").propose_feature_spotlight(
+    env = await _actions_with_flushable_session(
+        "head_marketing"
+    ).propose_feature_spotlight(
         agent_id=agent_id,
         **_valid_kwargs(),
         wants_video=True,
@@ -257,63 +259,44 @@ async def test_propose_feature_spotlight_wants_video_uses_explicit_script(
     )
 
     assert env.error is None
-    kwargs = video_engine.open_video_task.call_args.kwargs
+    ref = markers.get_x_feature_ref(materialized)
-    assert kwargs["script"] == "Custom voiceover script"
+    assert ref is not None
-    assert kwargs["brief"] != "Custom voiceover script"  # brief is always title:body
+    assert ref["slug"] == "org-memory"
+    assert ref["title"] == "Organizational Memory Loop"
+    assert ref["wants_video"] is True
+    assert ref["video_script"] == "Custom voiceover script"
 
 
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
-async def test_propose_feature_spotlight_default_wants_video_false_skips_video(
+async def test_propose_feature_spotlight_wants_video_without_script_stores_empty(
     monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch,
 ) -> None:
-    """Default False -> byte-for-byte unchanged spotlight behavior: the video
+    """No explicit script -> stored as "" (the fallback-to-brief logic lives
-    engine is never even looked up."""
+    in XPostService._open_spotlight_video at approve time, not here)."""
-    _enable_video(monkeypatch)
+    agent_id, materialized = _mock_spotlight_materialization(monkeypatch)
-    agent_id = _mock_spotlight_materialization(monkeypatch)
-    video_engine = _mock_video_engine(monkeypatch)
 
-    env = await _actions("head_marketing").propose_feature_spotlight(
+    env = await _actions_with_flushable_session(
-        agent_id=agent_id, **_valid_kwargs()
+        "head_marketing"
-    )
+    ).propose_feature_spotlight(agent_id=agent_id, **_valid_kwargs(), wants_video=True)
 
     assert env.error is None
-    assert env.status == "feature_spotlight_proposed"
+    ref = markers.get_x_feature_ref(materialized)
-    video_engine.open_video_task.assert_not_called()
+    assert ref is not None
+    assert ref["video_script"] == ""
 
 
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
-async def test_propose_feature_spotlight_wants_video_but_flags_off_skips_video(
+async def test_propose_feature_spotlight_default_wants_video_false_leaves_marker(
     monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch,
 ) -> None:
-    monkeypatch.setattr(cfg, "video_engine_enabled", False)
+    """Default False -> byte-for-byte unchanged: this verb never re-touches
-    monkeypatch.setattr(cfg, "video_on_spotlight", False)
+    the x_feature_ref marker at all."""
-    agent_id = _mock_spotlight_materialization(monkeypatch)
+    agent_id, materialized = _mock_spotlight_materialization(monkeypatch)
-    video_engine = _mock_video_engine(monkeypatch)
 
-    env = await _actions("head_marketing").propose_feature_spotlight(
+    env = await _actions_with_flushable_session(
-        agent_id=agent_id, **_valid_kwargs(), wants_video=True
+        "head_marketing"
-    )
+    ).propose_feature_spotlight(agent_id=agent_id, **_valid_kwargs())
-
-    assert env.error is None
-    video_engine.open_video_task.assert_not_called()
-
-
-@pytest.mark.asyncio
-async def test_propose_feature_spotlight_video_failure_does_not_break_spotlight(
-    monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch,
-) -> None:
-    """Best-effort: a video-engine blow-up must not surface as an error on the
-    spotlight verb — the spotlight draft already materialized."""
-    _enable_video(monkeypatch)
-    agent_id = _mock_spotlight_materialization(monkeypatch)
-    monkeypatch.setattr(
-        "roboco.services.video_engine.get_video_engine",
-        MagicMock(side_effect=RuntimeError("video-engine boom")),
-    )
-
-    env = await _actions("head_marketing").propose_feature_spotlight(
-        agent_id=agent_id, **_valid_kwargs(), wants_video=True
-    )
 
     assert env.error is None
     assert env.status == "feature_spotlight_proposed"
+    assert markers.get_x_feature_ref(materialized) is None

tests/unit/services/test_task.py

@@ -287,6 +287,59 @@ async def test_list_awaiting_main_pm_all_returns_root_tasks() -> None:
     assert out == roots
 
 
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# list_video_pipeline_tasks — pipeline-strip basis (task 1, 2026-07-09)
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_list_video_pipeline_tasks_keeps_non_terminal_and_unrendered() -> None:
+    """The query itself only excludes CANCELLED at the SQL level; the
+    COMPLETED-but-rendered drop happens in Python off the marker, so this
+    exercises that filter directly against a mixed mocked result set."""
+    in_progress = _build_task(status=TaskStatus.IN_PROGRESS, orchestration_markers=None)
+    awaiting_ceo = _build_task(
+        status=TaskStatus.AWAITING_CEO_APPROVAL, orchestration_markers=None
+    )
+    rendered = _build_task(
+        status=TaskStatus.COMPLETED,
+        orchestration_markers={"video_draft": {"render_status": "rendered"}},
+    )
+    pending_render = _build_task(
+        status=TaskStatus.COMPLETED,
+        orchestration_markers={"video_draft": {"render_attempts": 2}},
+    )
+    failed_render = _build_task(
+        status=TaskStatus.COMPLETED,
+        orchestration_markers={
+            "video_draft": {"render_status": "failed", "render_error": "boom"}
+        },
+    )
+    scalars = MagicMock()
+    scalars.all.return_value = [
+        in_progress,
+        awaiting_ceo,
+        rendered,
+        pending_render,
+        failed_render,
+    ]
+    result = MagicMock()
+    result.scalars.return_value = scalars
+    svc = _service_with(result)
+    out = await svc.list_video_pipeline_tasks()
+    assert out == [in_progress, awaiting_ceo, pending_render, failed_render]
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_list_video_pipeline_tasks_empty_when_nothing_in_flight() -> None:
+    scalars = MagicMock()
+    scalars.all.return_value = []
+    result = MagicMock()
+    result.scalars.return_value = scalars
+    svc = _service_with(result)
+    assert await svc.list_video_pipeline_tasks() == []
+
+
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # all_subtasks_terminal
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

tests/unit/services/test_video_engine.py

@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ from roboco.foundation.policy.content import markers
 from roboco.models.base import AgentRole, AgentStatus, Complexity, Team
 from roboco.models.base import TaskStatus as TS
 from roboco.services import video_engine as video_engine_module
+from roboco.services.company_goals import get_company_goals_service
 from roboco.services.task import VIDEO_POST_SOURCE, VIDEO_SOURCE, get_task_service
 from sqlalchemy import delete, select
 
@@ -32,6 +33,7 @@ UX_DEV_2_UUID = _foundation.AGENTS["ux-dev-2"].uuid
 SLUG = "roboco"
 ONE = 1
 TWO = 2
+THREE = 3
 
 
 async def _seed(session: AsyncSession) -> None:
@@ -134,6 +136,10 @@ async def test_open_video_task_creates_assigned_authoring_task(
     # would auto-block for subtasks it never owns and deadlock.
     assert task.estimated_complexity == Complexity.LOW
     assert task.acceptance_criteria  # non-empty
+    # Third AC line: composition follows the design bar / demo-kit register.
+    assert len(task.acceptance_criteria) == THREE
+    assert "motion/README.md" in task.acceptance_criteria[2]
+    assert "panel-demo" in task.acceptance_criteria[2]
     project = await db_session.get(ProjectTable, task.project_id)
     assert project is not None
     assert project.slug == SLUG
@@ -142,7 +148,14 @@ async def test_open_video_task_creates_assigned_authoring_task(
     assert draft["occasion"] == "release v1.0.0"
     assert draft["script"] == "Here's what shipped"
     assert draft["platforms"] == ["x", "tiktok"]
-    assert draft["brief"] == "Announce the release"
+    # brief is enriched: raw content + motion design-bar pointer appended.
+    assert draft["brief"].startswith("Announce the release")
+    assert "motion/README.md" in draft["brief"]
+    assert "motion/kit/README.md" in draft["brief"]
+    assert "compositions/panel-demo/" in draft["brief"]
+    assert "Brand voice" not in draft["brief"]  # unset -> omitted
+    assert draft["suggested_input_props"] == {}  # none supplied
+    assert task.description == draft["brief"]
 
 
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
@@ -433,7 +446,16 @@ async def test_draft_release_video_opens_authoring_task(
     assert draft["occasion"] == "release 1.0.0"
     assert draft["platforms"] == ["x", "tiktok"]
     assert draft["script"] == "RoboCo v1.0.0 just shipped a huge release."
-    assert draft["brief"] == draft["script"]
+    # brief is now the structured changelog block, not the LLM one-liner —
+    # the whole CHANGELOG section (not one bullet) plus a highlights list.
+    assert draft["brief"] != draft["script"]
+    assert _CHANGELOG.strip() in draft["brief"]
+    assert "a huge new release" in draft["brief"]
+    assert "motion/README.md" in draft["brief"]
+    assert draft["suggested_input_props"] == {
+        "version": "1.0.0",
+        "highlights": ["a huge new release"],
+    }
 
 
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
@@ -451,6 +473,10 @@ async def test_draft_release_video_falls_back_to_template_on_local_model_failure
     assert draft is not None
     assert "1.0.0" in draft["script"]
     assert "a huge new release" in draft["script"]
+    # The structured brief is built independent of the local model, so a
+    # model outage still produces the full changelog-derived brief.
+    assert _CHANGELOG.strip() in draft["brief"]
+    assert draft["suggested_input_props"]["highlights"] == ["a huge new release"]
 
 
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
@@ -466,6 +492,144 @@ async def test_draft_release_video_falls_back_to_template_on_empty_local_reply(
     draft = markers.get_video_draft(task)
     assert draft is not None
     assert draft["script"] == "RoboCo v2.0.0 just shipped: no bullets."
+    assert "- no bullets" in draft["brief"]
+    assert draft["suggested_input_props"] == {
+        "version": "2.0.0",
+        "highlights": ["no bullets"],
+    }
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_draft_release_video_brief_contains_brand_voice_when_set(
+    db_session: AsyncSession, monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch
+) -> None:
+    await _seed(db_session)
+    _enable(monkeypatch, video_on_release=True)
+    await get_company_goals_service(db_session).upsert(
+        {"brand_voice": "Dry wit, never an exclamation point."}
+    )
+    _mock_local_model(monkeypatch, "shipped!")
+    engine = video_engine_module.VideoEngine(db_session)
+    task = await engine.draft_release_video(version="1.0.0", changelog=_CHANGELOG)
+    assert task is not None
+    draft = markers.get_video_draft(task)
+    assert draft is not None
+    assert "Dry wit, never an exclamation point." in draft["brief"]
+
+
+# --------------------------------------------------------------------------- #
+# brief enrichment shared by every occasion — brand voice + motion pointer
+# (spec Task 2: "Feed the video brief")
+# --------------------------------------------------------------------------- #
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_open_video_task_brief_carries_motion_pointer_no_brand_voice_by_default(
+    db_session: AsyncSession, monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch
+) -> None:
+    """Simulates the on-demand (`POST /video/request`) caller, which passes
+    its brief through verbatim — enrichment must land centrally here since
+    that route can't append it itself."""
+    await _seed(db_session)
+    _enable(monkeypatch)
+    engine = video_engine_module.VideoEngine(db_session)
+    task = await engine.open_video_task(
+        occasion="on-demand demo",
+        script="script",
+        platforms=["x"],
+        brief="CEO's on-demand brief, verbatim.",
+    )
+    assert task is not None
+    draft = markers.get_video_draft(task)
+    assert draft is not None
+    assert draft["brief"].startswith("CEO's on-demand brief, verbatim.")
+    assert "motion/README.md" in draft["brief"]
+    assert "motion/kit/README.md" in draft["brief"]
+    assert "compositions/panel-demo/" in draft["brief"]
+    assert "Brand voice" not in draft["brief"]  # unset -> omitted
+    assert task.description == draft["brief"]
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_open_video_task_brief_includes_brand_voice_when_set(
+    db_session: AsyncSession, monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch
+) -> None:
+    await _seed(db_session)
+    _enable(monkeypatch)
+    await get_company_goals_service(db_session).upsert(
+        {"brand_voice": "Dry wit, never an exclamation point."}
+    )
+    engine = video_engine_module.VideoEngine(db_session)
+    task = await engine.open_video_task(
+        occasion="on-demand demo 2",
+        script="script",
+        platforms=["x"],
+        brief="CEO's on-demand brief.",
+    )
+    assert task is not None
+    draft = markers.get_video_draft(task)
+    assert draft is not None
+    assert "Dry wit, never an exclamation point." in draft["brief"]
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_open_video_task_does_not_compress_spotlight_brief(
+    db_session: AsyncSession, monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch
+) -> None:
+    """Mirrors content_actions._open_spotlight_video's `f"{title}: {body}"`
+    shape — the spotlight body is already rich; enrichment only appends,
+    never truncates or rewrites the original content."""
+    await _seed(db_session)
+    _enable(monkeypatch)
+    engine = video_engine_module.VideoEngine(db_session)
+    feature_brief = (
+        "Organizational Memory Loop: Did you know RoboCo agents learn from "
+        "every completed task? A local model distills one high-signal lesson "
+        "per task, retrieved back into future briefings."
+    )
+    task = await engine.open_video_task(
+        occasion="spotlight org-memory",
+        script=feature_brief,
+        platforms=["x", "tiktok"],
+        brief=feature_brief,
+    )
+    assert task is not None
+    draft = markers.get_video_draft(task)
+    assert draft is not None
+    assert draft["brief"].startswith(feature_brief)  # not truncated/compressed
+    assert "motion/README.md" in draft["brief"]
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_open_video_task_no_suggested_input_props_defaults_empty(
+    db_session: AsyncSession, monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch
+) -> None:
+    await _seed(db_session)
+    _enable(monkeypatch)
+    engine = video_engine_module.VideoEngine(db_session)
+    task = await engine.open_video_task(
+        occasion="spotlight x", script="s", platforms=["x"], brief="b"
+    )
+    assert task is not None
+    draft = markers.get_video_draft(task)
+    assert draft is not None
+    assert draft["suggested_input_props"] == {}
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_open_video_task_acceptance_criteria_has_design_bar_line(
+    db_session: AsyncSession, monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch
+) -> None:
+    await _seed(db_session)
+    _enable(monkeypatch)
+    engine = video_engine_module.VideoEngine(db_session)
+    task = await engine.open_video_task(
+        occasion="release v9.9.9", script="s", platforms=["x"], brief="b"
+    )
+    assert task is not None
+    assert len(task.acceptance_criteria) == THREE
+    assert "motion/README.md" in task.acceptance_criteria[2]
+    assert "panel-demo" in task.acceptance_criteria[2]
 
 
 @pytest.mark.asyncio

tests/unit/services/test_x_post_service.py

@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ from unittest.mock import AsyncMock, patch
 from uuid import uuid4
 
 import pytest
+from roboco.config import settings as cfg
 from roboco.db.tables import AgentTable, ProjectTable, TaskTable
 from roboco.foundation import identity as _foundation
 from roboco.foundation.policy.content import markers
@@ -126,6 +127,40 @@ async def _seed_draft(
     return task
 
 
+_FEATURE_SLUG = "org-memory"
+_FEATURE_TITLE = "Organizational Memory Loop"
+
+
+async def _seed_feature_draft(
+    session: AsyncSession,
+    *,
+    wants_video: bool = True,
+    video_script: str = "",
+    body: str = "Draft body",
+) -> TaskTable:
+    """An X_FEATURE_SOURCE draft carrying the x_feature_ref marker
+    ``propose_feature_spotlight`` stamps (Task 4, 2026-07-09 pipeline fixes):
+    slug/title always, plus wants_video/video_script when a companion video
+    was requested at authoring time."""
+    task = await _seed_draft(session, source=X_FEATURE_SOURCE, body=body)
+    markers.set_x_feature_ref(
+        task,
+        {
+            "slug": _FEATURE_SLUG,
+            "title": _FEATURE_TITLE,
+            "wants_video": wants_video,
+            "video_script": video_script,
+        },
+    )
+    await session.flush()
+    return task
+
+
+def _enable_video(monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch) -> None:
+    monkeypatch.setattr(cfg, "video_engine_enabled", True)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(cfg, "video_on_spotlight", True)
+
+
 def _svc(session: AsyncSession) -> XPostService:
     return get_x_post_service(session)
 
@@ -324,8 +359,9 @@ async def test_list_open_posts_excludes_terminal(db_session: AsyncSession) -> No
 async def test_approve_posts_feature_spotlight_draft(
     db_session: AsyncSession,
 ) -> None:
-    """The feature-spotlight source needs zero service changes: it rides the
+    """The feature-spotlight source rides the same generic post path as
-    same generic approve path as x_post/x_reply."""
+    x_post/x_reply; it only branches for the best-effort video hook below
+    (a no-op here since this draft carries no x_feature_ref marker)."""
     task = await _seed_draft(db_session, source=X_FEATURE_SOURCE)
     client = _StubClient()
     with (
@@ -463,3 +499,221 @@ async def test_approve_does_not_flush_edited_body_before_lock(
     assert result.status == "already_posted"
     await db_session.refresh(task)
     assert markers.get_x_draft_body(task) == original_body
+
+
+# --------------------------------------------------------------------------- #
+# Spotlight video hook (Task 4, 2026-07-09 pipeline fixes): moved from
+# authoring time (propose_feature_spotlight) to this posted-success branch so
+# a ux-dev never burns a cycle on a spotlight the CEO then rejects.
+# --------------------------------------------------------------------------- #
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_approve_feature_spotlight_with_video_opens_video_task(
+    db_session: AsyncSession, monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch
+) -> None:
+    _enable_video(monkeypatch)
+    task = await _seed_feature_draft(db_session, video_script="Custom voiceover script")
+    client = _StubClient()
+    video_engine = AsyncMock()
+    video_engine.open_video_task = AsyncMock(return_value=None)
+    with (
+        patch("roboco.services.x_post_service.build_x_client", return_value=client),
+        patch.object(XPostService, "_acquire_lock", AsyncMock(return_value="tok")),
+        patch.object(XPostService, "_release_lock", AsyncMock(return_value=None)),
+        patch(
+            "roboco.services.video_engine.get_video_engine",
+            return_value=video_engine,
+        ),
+    ):
+        result = await _svc(db_session).approve(_id(task))
+    assert result is not None
+    assert result.status == "posted"
+    video_engine.open_video_task.assert_awaited_once()
+    kwargs = video_engine.open_video_task.call_args.kwargs
+    assert kwargs["occasion"] == "spotlight org-memory"
+    assert kwargs["platforms"] == ["x", "tiktok"]
+    assert kwargs["script"] == "Custom voiceover script"
+    assert kwargs["brief"] == "Organizational Memory Loop: Draft body"
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_approve_feature_spotlight_video_falls_back_to_brief_script(
+    db_session: AsyncSession, monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch
+) -> None:
+    """No explicit video_script -> script falls back to the brief, mirroring
+    the fallback the authoring-time hook used to do."""
+    _enable_video(monkeypatch)
+    task = await _seed_feature_draft(db_session)
+    client = _StubClient()
+    video_engine = AsyncMock()
+    video_engine.open_video_task = AsyncMock(return_value=None)
+    with (
+        patch("roboco.services.x_post_service.build_x_client", return_value=client),
+        patch.object(XPostService, "_acquire_lock", AsyncMock(return_value="tok")),
+        patch.object(XPostService, "_release_lock", AsyncMock(return_value=None)),
+        patch(
+            "roboco.services.video_engine.get_video_engine",
+            return_value=video_engine,
+        ),
+    ):
+        result = await _svc(db_session).approve(_id(task))
+    assert result is not None
+    assert result.status == "posted"
+    kwargs = video_engine.open_video_task.call_args.kwargs
+    expected_brief = "Organizational Memory Loop: Draft body"
+    assert kwargs["script"] == expected_brief
+    assert kwargs["brief"] == expected_brief
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_approve_feature_spotlight_reapprove_does_not_reopen_video(
+    db_session: AsyncSession, monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch
+) -> None:
+    """Idempotent re-approve: the second call short-circuits on the already-
+    COMPLETED check before ever reaching _post/_open_spotlight_video again."""
+    _enable_video(monkeypatch)
+    task = await _seed_feature_draft(db_session)
+    client = _StubClient()
+    video_engine = AsyncMock()
+    video_engine.open_video_task = AsyncMock(return_value=None)
+    with (
+        patch("roboco.services.x_post_service.build_x_client", return_value=client),
+        patch.object(XPostService, "_acquire_lock", AsyncMock(return_value="tok")),
+        patch.object(XPostService, "_release_lock", AsyncMock(return_value=None)),
+        patch(
+            "roboco.services.video_engine.get_video_engine",
+            return_value=video_engine,
+        ),
+    ):
+        svc = _svc(db_session)
+        first = await svc.approve(_id(task))
+        second = await svc.approve(_id(task))
+    assert first is not None
+    assert first.status == "posted"
+    assert second is not None
+    assert second.status == "already_posted"
+    video_engine.open_video_task.assert_awaited_once()
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_approve_plain_x_post_never_opens_video(
+    db_session: AsyncSession, monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch
+) -> None:
+    """A plain x_post draft carries no x_feature_ref, so the source check
+    alone keeps the video hook from ever firing for it."""
+    _enable_video(monkeypatch)
+    task = await _seed_draft(db_session, source=X_POST_SOURCE)
+    client = _StubClient()
+    video_engine = AsyncMock()
+    video_engine.open_video_task = AsyncMock(return_value=None)
+    with (
+        patch("roboco.services.x_post_service.build_x_client", return_value=client),
+        patch.object(XPostService, "_acquire_lock", AsyncMock(return_value="tok")),
+        patch.object(XPostService, "_release_lock", AsyncMock(return_value=None)),
+        patch(
+            "roboco.services.video_engine.get_video_engine",
+            return_value=video_engine,
+        ),
+    ):
+        result = await _svc(db_session).approve(_id(task))
+    assert result is not None
+    assert result.status == "posted"
+    video_engine.open_video_task.assert_not_called()
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_reject_feature_spotlight_with_wants_video_opens_none(
+    db_session: AsyncSession, monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch
+) -> None:
+    """Rejecting a spotlight draft never posts, so the video hook (which only
+    fires from the posted-success branch of _post) never runs either."""
+    _enable_video(monkeypatch)
+    task = await _seed_feature_draft(db_session)
+    video_engine = AsyncMock()
+    video_engine.open_video_task = AsyncMock(return_value=None)
+    with patch(
+        "roboco.services.video_engine.get_video_engine",
+        return_value=video_engine,
+    ):
+        updated = await _svc(db_session).reject(_id(task), "not on-brand")
+    assert updated is not None
+    assert updated.status == TS.CANCELLED
+    video_engine.open_video_task.assert_not_called()
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_approve_feature_spotlight_video_flags_off_skips(
+    db_session: AsyncSession, monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch
+) -> None:
+    monkeypatch.setattr(cfg, "video_engine_enabled", False)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(cfg, "video_on_spotlight", False)
+    task = await _seed_feature_draft(db_session)
+    client = _StubClient()
+    video_engine = AsyncMock()
+    video_engine.open_video_task = AsyncMock(return_value=None)
+    with (
+        patch("roboco.services.x_post_service.build_x_client", return_value=client),
+        patch.object(XPostService, "_acquire_lock", AsyncMock(return_value="tok")),
+        patch.object(XPostService, "_release_lock", AsyncMock(return_value=None)),
+        patch(
+            "roboco.services.video_engine.get_video_engine",
+            return_value=video_engine,
+        ),
+    ):
+        result = await _svc(db_session).approve(_id(task))
+    assert result is not None
+    assert result.status == "posted"
+    video_engine.open_video_task.assert_not_called()
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_approve_feature_spotlight_without_wants_video_skips(
+    db_session: AsyncSession, monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch
+) -> None:
+    """Flags on but the draft's author didn't request a video (wants_video
+    absent/False on the marker) -> no video task, distinct from the
+    flags-off case above."""
+    _enable_video(monkeypatch)
+    task = await _seed_feature_draft(db_session, wants_video=False)
+    client = _StubClient()
+    video_engine = AsyncMock()
+    video_engine.open_video_task = AsyncMock(return_value=None)
+    with (
+        patch("roboco.services.x_post_service.build_x_client", return_value=client),
+        patch.object(XPostService, "_acquire_lock", AsyncMock(return_value="tok")),
+        patch.object(XPostService, "_release_lock", AsyncMock(return_value=None)),
+        patch(
+            "roboco.services.video_engine.get_video_engine",
+            return_value=video_engine,
+        ),
+    ):
+        result = await _svc(db_session).approve(_id(task))
+    assert result is not None
+    assert result.status == "posted"
+    video_engine.open_video_task.assert_not_called()
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_approve_feature_spotlight_video_failure_does_not_break_post(
+    db_session: AsyncSession, monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch
+) -> None:
+    """Best-effort: a video-engine blow-up must not affect the already-
+    succeeded post."""
+    _enable_video(monkeypatch)
+    task = await _seed_feature_draft(db_session)
+    client = _StubClient()
+    with (
+        patch("roboco.services.x_post_service.build_x_client", return_value=client),
+        patch.object(XPostService, "_acquire_lock", AsyncMock(return_value="tok")),
+        patch.object(XPostService, "_release_lock", AsyncMock(return_value=None)),
+        patch(
+            "roboco.services.video_engine.get_video_engine",
+            side_effect=RuntimeError("video-engine boom"),
+        ),
+    ):
+        result = await _svc(db_session).approve(_id(task))
+    assert result is not None
+    assert result.status == "posted"
+    await db_session.refresh(task)
+    assert task.status == TS.COMPLETED

video-renderer/package.json

@@ -9,7 +9,8 @@
     "node": ">=22.13"
   },
   "scripts": {
-    "start": "node server.js"
+    "start": "node server.js",
+    "test": "node --test"
   },
   "dependencies": {
     "@hyperframes/engine": "^0.7.36",

video-renderer/render.js

@@ -9,18 +9,37 @@
 // streamed the response.
 import { createRenderJob, executeRenderJob } from "@hyperframes/producer";
 import { existsSync } from "node:fs";
-import { cp, mkdtemp, readdir, rm, writeFile } from "node:fs/promises";
+import { cp, mkdtemp, readdir, readFile, rm, writeFile } from "node:fs/promises";
 import { tmpdir } from "node:os";
 import path from "node:path";
 import { Readable } from "node:stream";
 import * as tar from "tar";
 
-const FPS = 30;
 // @hyperframes/producer reads each cut's dimensions from the composition HTML
 // itself (data-width/data-height on the stage), so the sidecar no longer
 // passes width/height — it only picks the quality tier.
 const QUALITY = "high";
 
+const DEFAULT_FPS = 30;
+const MIN_FPS = 24;
+const MAX_FPS = 60;
+
+/**
+ * Read the composition-declared frame rate off its HTML text (the
+ * `data-fps` attribute motion/README.md instructs authors to set — it
+ * appears on both `<html>` and `#stage` in every composition seen so far;
+ * a plain regex over the whole file catches either). Falls back to
+ * DEFAULT_FPS when absent, unparsable, or outside the sane broadcast bound —
+ * never lets a bad attribute wedge the job at an undefined rate.
+ */
+export function parseFps(html) {
+  const match = /data-fps=["'](\d+)["']/.exec(html);
+  if (!match) return DEFAULT_FPS;
+  const fps = Number(match[1]);
+  if (!Number.isFinite(fps) || fps < MIN_FPS || fps > MAX_FPS) return DEFAULT_FPS;
+  return fps;
+}
+
 // Caps the DECOMPRESSED size (a gzip bomb inflates a tiny upload into a huge
 // tar stream); MAX_UPLOAD_BYTES in server.js only bounds the compressed
 // bytes on the wire.
@@ -142,6 +161,12 @@ export async function renderComposition({
       throw new UnknownCompositionError(compositionId, knownIds);
     }
 
+    const entryHtml = await readFile(
+      path.join(compositionDir, `${orientation}.html`),
+      "utf8",
+    );
+    const fps = parseFps(entryHtml);
+
     // The HTML files <script src="props.js"></script> reads this — set up by
     // Task T2, but the sidecar must write the file per render so the HTML
     // picks up per-release content + orientation.
@@ -171,7 +196,7 @@ export async function renderComposition({
     // out of the job config), and resolves the cut's HTML from entryFile
     // relative to projectDir.
     const job = createRenderJob({
-      fps: FPS,
+      fps,
       quality: QUALITY,
       format: "mp4",
       entryFile: `${orientation}.html`,

video-renderer/render.test.js

@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+// node --test: node's built-in runner, no dependency needed. Only parseFps is
+// exercised (a pure function) — renderComposition needs a real Chromium
+// render and is covered by manual/e2e verification instead.
+import { readFile } from "node:fs/promises";
+import path from "node:path";
+import { fileURLToPath } from "node:url";
+import { test } from "node:test";
+import assert from "node:assert/strict";
+import { parseFps } from "./render.js";
+
+const __dirname = path.dirname(fileURLToPath(import.meta.url));
+const compositionsRoot = path.join(__dirname, "..", "motion", "compositions");
+
+test("parseFps reads data-fps off a real composition file", async () => {
+  const html = await readFile(
+    path.join(compositionsRoot, "release-announcement", "vertical.html"),
+    "utf8",
+  );
+  assert.equal(parseFps(html), 30);
+});
+
+test("parseFps reads a declared 24fps composition", () => {
+  const html = `<div id="stage" data-fps="24"></div>`;
+  assert.equal(parseFps(html), 24);
+});
+
+test("parseFps falls back to 30 when the attribute is missing", () => {
+  assert.equal(parseFps("<html><body>no fps here</body></html>"), 30);
+});
+
+test("parseFps clamps below the 24-60 bound to the 30 fallback", () => {
+  assert.equal(parseFps(`<div data-fps="15"></div>`), 30);
+});
+
+test("parseFps clamps above the 24-60 bound to the 30 fallback", () => {
+  assert.equal(parseFps(`<div data-fps="120"></div>`), 30);
+});
+
+test("parseFps falls back to 30 on an unparsable value", () => {
+  assert.equal(parseFps(`<div data-fps="abc"></div>`), 30);
+});
+
+test("parseFps accepts the boundary values 24 and 60", () => {
+  assert.equal(parseFps(`<div data-fps="24"></div>`), 24);
+  assert.equal(parseFps(`<div data-fps="60"></div>`), 60);
+});