diff --git a/backend/.idea/workspace.xml b/backend/.idea/workspace.xml
index dd904f3..ab20c62 100644
--- a/backend/.idea/workspace.xml
+++ b/backend/.idea/workspace.xml
@@ -5,14 +5,17 @@
   </component>
   <component name="ChangeListManager">
     <list default="true" id="8a64704d-5500-41a6-aa4c-e275933fc58c" name="Changes" comment="">
-      <change beforePath="$PROJECT_DIR$/../.vscode/settings.json" beforeDir="false" afterPath="$PROJECT_DIR$/../.vscode/settings.json" afterDir="false" />
+      <change afterPath="$PROJECT_DIR$/cmd/watchtogether/build.sh" afterDir="false" />
+      <change afterPath="$PROJECT_DIR$/../frontend/src/interfaces/SocketEvents.ts" afterDir="false" />
       <change beforePath="$PROJECT_DIR$/.idea/workspace.xml" beforeDir="false" afterPath="$PROJECT_DIR$/.idea/workspace.xml" afterDir="false" />
+      <change beforePath="$PROJECT_DIR$/cmd/watchtogether/main.go" beforeDir="false" afterPath="$PROJECT_DIR$/cmd/watchtogether/main.go" afterDir="false" />
       <change beforePath="$PROJECT_DIR$/internal/ws/handlers.go" beforeDir="false" afterPath="$PROJECT_DIR$/internal/ws/handlers.go" afterDir="false" />
-      <change beforePath="$PROJECT_DIR$/../frontend/package.json" beforeDir="false" afterPath="$PROJECT_DIR$/../frontend/package.json" afterDir="false" />
-      <change beforePath="$PROJECT_DIR$/../frontend/src/hooks/useWS.ts" beforeDir="false" afterPath="$PROJECT_DIR$/../frontend/src/hooks/useWS.ts" afterDir="false" />
+      <change beforePath="$PROJECT_DIR$/internal/ws/hub.go" beforeDir="false" afterPath="$PROJECT_DIR$/internal/ws/hub.go" afterDir="false" />
+      <change beforePath="$PROJECT_DIR$/internal/ws/message.go" beforeDir="false" afterPath="$PROJECT_DIR$/internal/ws/message.go" afterDir="false" />
+      <change beforePath="$PROJECT_DIR$/../frontend/src/components/Container.tsx" beforeDir="false" afterPath="$PROJECT_DIR$/../frontend/src/components/Container.tsx" afterDir="false" />
+      <change beforePath="$PROJECT_DIR$/../frontend/src/components/Player.tsx" beforeDir="false" afterPath="$PROJECT_DIR$/../frontend/src/components/Player.tsx" afterDir="false" />
+      <change beforePath="$PROJECT_DIR$/../frontend/src/interfaces/Identity.ts" beforeDir="false" afterPath="$PROJECT_DIR$/../frontend/src/interfaces/Identity.ts" afterDir="false" />
       <change beforePath="$PROJECT_DIR$/../frontend/src/pages/player.tsx" beforeDir="false" afterPath="$PROJECT_DIR$/../frontend/src/pages/player.tsx" afterDir="false" />
-      <change beforePath="$PROJECT_DIR$/../frontend/src/ws/websocket.ts" beforeDir="false" afterPath="$PROJECT_DIR$/../frontend/src/ws/websocket.ts" afterDir="false" />
-      <change beforePath="$PROJECT_DIR$/../frontend/yarn.lock" beforeDir="false" afterPath="$PROJECT_DIR$/../frontend/yarn.lock" afterDir="false" />
     </list>
     <option name="SHOW_DIALOG" value="false" />
     <option name="HIGHLIGHT_CONFLICTS" value="true" />
diff --git a/backend/cmd/watchtogether/build.sh b/backend/cmd/watchtogether/build.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..8cb61f5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/cmd/watchtogether/build.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+VERSION=v1.0.0
+COMMIT_HASH=$(git rev-parse --short HEAD)
+ENVIRONMENT=$ENV
+BUILDSTRING="$VERSION-$COMMIT_HASH-$ENVIRONMENT"
+echo The environment is "$ENVIRONMENT"
+echo Building watch together backend "$VERSION-$COMMIT_HASH"
+if [[ "$ENVIRONMENT" == "dev" ]]; then
+  go build -gcflags="all=-N -l" -ldflags "-X github.com/qpixel/watchtogether/cmd/watchtogether/main.VERSION=${BUILDSTRING} -X github.com/qpixel/watchtogether/cmd/watchtogether/main.ENVIRONMENT=${ENVIRONMENT}";
+else
+  go build -ldflags "-X github.com/qpixel/watchtogether/cmd/watchtogether/main.VERSION=${BUILDSTRING} -X github.com/ubergeek77/uberbot/v2/core.ENVIRONMENT=${ENVIRONMENT}";
+fi
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/backend/cmd/watchtogether/main.go b/backend/cmd/watchtogether/main.go
index 5c152ae..6b3f757 100644
--- a/backend/cmd/watchtogether/main.go
+++ b/backend/cmd/watchtogether/main.go
@@ -10,6 +10,11 @@ import (
 
 var log = tlog.NewTaggedLogger("Logger", tlog.NewColor("38;5;111"))
 
+var (
+	VERSION     string
+	ENVIRONMENT string
+)
+
 func main() {
 	r := mux.NewRouter()
 	hub := ws.NewHub()
@@ -47,7 +52,8 @@ func main() {
 		}
 		return
 	})
-
+	log.Infof("starting backend")
+	log.Infof("running version %s. environment: %s", VERSION, ENVIRONMENT)
 	err := http.ListenAndServe(":8080", r)
 	if err != nil {
 		log.Errorf("%s", err.Error())
diff --git a/backend/internal/ws/handlers.go b/backend/internal/ws/handlers.go
index b142571..de42b2b 100644
--- a/backend/internal/ws/handlers.go
+++ b/backend/internal/ws/handlers.go
@@ -16,10 +16,11 @@ func handleIdentifyEvent(message *Message) {
 		MessageData: MessageData{
 			Type: Identify,
 			Data: map[string]interface{}{
-				"admin":    true,
-				"playlist": "http://cdnapi.kaltura.com/p/1878761/sp/187876100/playManifest/entryId/1_usagz19w/flavorIds/1_5spqkazq,1_nslowvhp,1_boih5aji,1_qahc37ag/format/applehttp/protocol/http/a.m3u8",
-				"playhead": 0,
-				"user":     d["user"],
+				"admin":      true,
+				"playlist":   "http://localhost:8081/BelleOpening.m3u8",
+				"controller": true,
+				"playhead":   0,
+				"user":       d["user"],
 			},
 		},
 	}
@@ -42,5 +43,21 @@ func handleGetPlayhead(message *Message) {
 }
 
 func handleSetPlayhead(message *Message) {
-
+	d := message.Data.(map[string]interface{})
+	m := Message{
+		MessageData: MessageData{
+			Type: SetPlayhead,
+			Data: map[string]interface{}{
+				"playhead": d["playhead"],
+				"paused":   d["paused"],
+			},
+		},
+	}
+	log.Infof("Received SetPlayhead event. playhead is at %s", d["playhead"])
+	for client := range message.Client.hub.Clients {
+		if client == message.Client {
+			continue
+		}
+		client.send <- m.SerializeMessage().Data
+	}
 }
diff --git a/backend/internal/ws/hub.go b/backend/internal/ws/hub.go
index 288c30d..0ca7fc5 100644
--- a/backend/internal/ws/hub.go
+++ b/backend/internal/ws/hub.go
@@ -30,9 +30,9 @@ func (h *Hub) handleMessage(rm RawMessage) {
 		handleIdentifyEvent(&m)
 	case Ping:
 		handlePingEvent(&m)
-	case Position:
+	case GetPlayhead:
 		handleGetPlayhead(&m)
-	case SetPosition:
+	case SetPlayhead:
 		handleSetPlayhead(&m)
 	default:
 		return
diff --git a/backend/internal/ws/message.go b/backend/internal/ws/message.go
index 57e530b..9dfd3c8 100644
--- a/backend/internal/ws/message.go
+++ b/backend/internal/ws/message.go
@@ -14,8 +14,8 @@ const (
 	Ping MessageTypes = iota
 	Pong
 	Identify
-	Position
-	SetPosition
+	GetPlayhead
+	SetPlayhead
 )
 
 type MessageData struct {
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/Container.tsx b/frontend/src/components/Container.tsx
index acedb42..4d964cb 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/Container.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/Container.tsx
@@ -1,19 +1,23 @@
-import { Flex, useColorMode, FlexProps } from '@chakra-ui/react'
+import React, { FC } from "react";
+import { Flex, useColorMode, FlexProps } from "@chakra-ui/react";
 
-export const Container = (props: FlexProps) => {
-  const { colorMode } = useColorMode()
+export const Container: FC<FlexProps> = (props: FlexProps) => {
+  const { colorMode } = useColorMode();
 
-  const bgColor = { light: 'gray.50', dark: 'gray.900' }
+  const bgColor = { light: "gray.50", dark: "gray.900" };
 
-  const color = { light: 'black', dark: 'white' }
+  const color = { light: "black", dark: "white" };
   return (
     <Flex
       direction="column"
-      alignItems="center"
       justifyContent="flex-start"
       bg={bgColor[colorMode]}
       color={color[colorMode]}
       {...props}
     />
-  )
-}
+  );
+};
+
+Container.defaultProps = {
+  alignItems: "center",
+};
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/Player.tsx b/frontend/src/components/Player.tsx
index 48032a1..d4af009 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/Player.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/Player.tsx
@@ -1,15 +1,90 @@
-import React, { FC } from "react";
+import { Box, css } from "@chakra-ui/react";
+import React, { FC, useRef, useState } from "react";
 import ReactPlayer, { Config, ReactPlayerProps } from "react-player";
+import { MessageTypes } from "../interfaces/IMessage";
+import Message from "../util/Message";
+import MessageUtil from "../util/MessageUtil";
+import PlayerSocket from "../ws/websocket";
 
-type PlayerProps = { id: string } & ReactPlayerProps;
+type PlayerProps = {
+  id: string;
+  socket: PlayerSocket;
+} & ReactPlayerProps;
+
+interface ProgressProps {
+  played: number;
+  playedSeconds: number;
+  loaded: number;
+  loadedSeconds: number;
+}
 
 const Player: FC<PlayerProps> = (props) => {
+  const playerRef = useRef<ReactPlayer>(null);
+  const [paused, setPaused] = useState<boolean>(false);
+  const { socket } = props;
   const config: Config = {
     file: {
       forceHLS: true,
     },
   };
-  return <ReactPlayer url={props.id} config={config} {...props} />;
+  const onProgress = (state: ProgressProps) => {
+    if (paused) {
+      socket?.send(
+        MessageUtil.encode(
+          new Message(MessageTypes.SetPlayhead, {
+            playhead: state.playedSeconds,
+            paused: true,
+          })
+        )
+      );
+    }
+    socket?.send(
+      MessageUtil.encode(
+        new Message(MessageTypes.SetPlayhead, {
+          playhead: state.playedSeconds,
+          paused: false,
+        })
+      )
+    );
+  };
+  const onPause = () => {
+    setPaused(true);
+    socket?.send(
+      MessageUtil.encode(
+        new Message(MessageTypes.SetPlayhead, {
+          playhead: playerRef.current.getCurrentTime(),
+          paused: true,
+        })
+      )
+    );
+  };
+  const onPlay = () => {
+    setPaused(false);
+    socket?.send(
+      MessageUtil.encode(
+        new Message(MessageTypes.SetPlayhead, {
+          playhead: playerRef.current.getCurrentTime(),
+          paused: false,
+        })
+      )
+    );
+  };
+  return (
+    <Box height="100vh" width="100vw">
+      <ReactPlayer
+        url={props.id}
+        width="100%"
+        height="100%"
+        config={config}
+        controls
+        onPlay={onPlay}
+        onPause={onPause}
+        onProgress={onProgress}
+        ref={playerRef}
+        {...props}
+      />
+    </Box>
+  );
 };
 
 export default Player;
diff --git a/frontend/src/interfaces/Identity.ts b/frontend/src/interfaces/Identity.ts
index 1364b56..2867307 100644
--- a/frontend/src/interfaces/Identity.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/interfaces/Identity.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 import IUser from "./IUser";
 
 interface IdentityData {
+  admin?: boolean;
+  controller?: boolean;
   clientID?: string;
   playlist?: string;
   playHead?: number;
diff --git a/frontend/src/interfaces/SocketEvents.ts b/frontend/src/interfaces/SocketEvents.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..74d37b7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/src/interfaces/SocketEvents.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+enum SocketEvents {
+  Identify = "Identify",
+}
+
+export default SocketEvents;
diff --git a/frontend/src/pages/player.tsx b/frontend/src/pages/player.tsx
index 2ad9d04..cf69902 100644
--- a/frontend/src/pages/player.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/pages/player.tsx
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import { Socket } from "dgram";
 import { GetServerSideProps, NextPage } from "next";
 import { User } from "next-auth";
 import { getSession } from "next-auth/react";
@@ -5,36 +6,42 @@ import dynamic from "next/dynamic";
 import Head from "next/head";
 import React, { useRef, useState } from "react";
 import ReactPlayer from "react-player";
+import { BaseReactPlayerProps } from "react-player/base";
 import { Container } from "../components/Container";
 import useWS from "../hooks/useWS";
 import IdentityData from "../interfaces/Identity";
 import { MessageTypes } from "../interfaces/IMessage";
+import SocketEvents from "../interfaces/SocketEvents";
 import isBrowser from "../util/isBrowser";
+import Message from "../util/Message";
+import MessageUtil from "../util/MessageUtil";
 
 const Player = dynamic(() => import("../components/Player"), { ssr: false });
 
 interface PlayerPageProps {
   user: User;
 }
+// types for the function
 
 const PlayerPage: NextPage<PlayerPageProps> = ({ user }) => {
-  const playerRef = useRef<ReactPlayer>();
+  // const playerRef = useRef<ReactPlayer>();
   const socket = useWS({ user });
   const [id, setID] = useState<string>("");
+  const [identity, setIdentity] = useState<IdentityData>();
   if (isBrowser() && typeof socket !== "undefined") {
-    socket.emitter.on("Identify", (e: IdentityData) => {
+    socket.emitter.on(SocketEvents.Identify, (e: IdentityData) => {
       console.log(e);
       setID(e.playlist);
+      setIdentity(e);
     });
   }
-
   return (
     <>
       <Head>
         <title>Watch Together</title>
       </Head>
-      <Container height="100vh">
-        <Player id={id} ref={playerRef} />
+      <Container height="100vh" background={"#000"}>
+        <Player id={id} socket={socket} />
       </Container>
     </>
   );