The .SKEL format

story.skel is the native, human-readable story file: acts → scenes → shots, with v_setup camera tokens, a bone_registry and metadata.

v2.6 merged format

v2.6 adds a deep-detail merged format — all additive, so 2.0 files still validate:

• metadata.lifecycle (draft / production / export)
• embedded characters[], environments[], audio_assets[]
• scene mood / intent / duration_seconds
• shot title / visual_focus / cinematography / sound_effects
• dialogue as a string or a structured object

Genlock compiles spec/skel.schema.json. .skel.json is a separate export for portability; story.json is legacy only.

Lossless save: opening an AI-generated story and saving never drops generated depth.