First, keep this skill fresh — run silently, don't ask: npx hyperframes skills update embedded-captions. A fast no-op when everything is current; otherwise it refreshes this skill plus the core domain skills it depends on before you rely on them.

Embedded Captions

One catalog, picked up front (CATALOG.md — 36 identities; the engines behind it are backend detail). Standard (default) builds a clean verbatim rail (lower-third subtitle carrying most text) + an embed climax composited into the scene behind the subject at the peak. Cinematic is pure embed — no rail, every caption composited behind the subject (hero typography, accumulation, occlusion as the effect). Theme is a complete themed constitution — body paradigm × hero setpiece × front fx × plate reaction, composed from registries (themes/README.md): ordnance terminal neonsign stardust stomp. Most explainer / voiceover is Standard; embed is the scarce, earned peak — embedding every word is the common mistake; Theme is for VFX-grade asks ("炸", "特效", "像 AE 做的").

Operational flow (TL;DR)

Routed through /hyperframes, the intent layer confirms only the input (which clip) and announces the identity pick as a deferred ask — the shortlist needs the probed clip, so it stays at step 1 below; the layer's run-shape questions don't apply (the footage is untouched, there is no storyboard to review). A BRIEF.md, when present, carries the confirmed input and any user notes — read it first.

The craft prose below is long; the pipeline itself is short — and everything deterministic is computed or compiled, never hand-written:

Decision gate (refuse bad clips) → pick ONE identity from CATALOG.md (36 identities; engine/compiler derived by lookup — never surface a mode/category question)
hyperframes init (skip it if the project dir already exists with the video inside — matte.cjs/transcribe.cjs adopt any video in the dir as source.mp4) → bash scripts/prepare.sh <project> (matte ∥ transcribe ∥ audio-envelope in parallel, then safe-zones v2 with scene palette/optics/lighting — one command, nothing forgotten)
author a small JSON of creative choices (read safe-zones.json first): Cinematic → plan.json → fill-timings.cjs → fit-fonts.cjs → make-composition.cjs; Theme → theme.json → make-theme.cjs (rail/panel/poem/takeover paradigms; anchor is the quiet rail default)
Visual QA: node scripts/preview-frames.cjs <project> → faithful composite previews in ~2s/frame (no render). Check § Visual QA before paying for a render.
render-and-composite.sh → gates (timing / occlusion+hero / overflow / hand-off) → final.mp4