Coin Heist (2017) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

Four students attempt to recover stolen school funds by producing altered quarters, then confront the person responsible for the embezzlement.

Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases

A Scheme for the Stolen Funds

After ten million dollars disappears from Dennington Prep's coffers, Alice proposes making altered state quarters to recover some of it. The recent class trip to the Philadelphia Mint inspired her plan, and Benny and Dakota join the effort.

Key Events

• School Funds Embezzled — Ten million dollars has been embezzled from the school's coffers. Characters: Jason Hodges Location: Dennington Prep
• Alice Proposes the Scheme — Alice approaches Jason with a plan to make altered quarters to recover some of the stolen funds. Characters: Alice Drake, Jason Hodges Location: Dennington Prep
• Mint Trip Inspires the Plan — Alice's idea was inspired by the students' recent class trip to the Mint. Characters: Alice Drake, Jason Hodges Location: Philadelphia Mint
• Benny Joins the Team — Benny joins to provide mechanical help informed by his work in his uncle's garage. Characters: Alice Drake, Jason Hodges, Benny Location: Dennington Prep
• Dakota Joins the Plan — Jason's organized ex-girlfriend Dakota becomes part of the student scheme. Characters: Jason Hodges, Dakota Cunningham Location: Dennington Prep

Breaking Into the Mint

The students combine Dakota's ability to distract people, Alice's hacking, and Benny's mechanical knowledge to prepare the scheme. Their apparent progress is interrupted by a major falling out.

Key Events

• Four Students Unite — The four students combine their skills to plan the altered-quarter operation. Characters: Alice Drake, Jason Hodges, Dakota Cunningham, Benny Location: Dennington Prep
• Dakota Distracts Guards — Dakota sweet-talks the guards while posing as a reporter. Characters: Dakota Cunningham Location: Philadelphia Mint
• Manager Is Distracted — Dakota distracts the Mint manager as part of the team's access plan. Characters: Dakota Cunningham Location: Philadelphia Mint
• Alice Hacks Security — Alice hacks the Mint's security system through its computer. Characters: Alice Drake Location: Philadelphia Mint
• Die Design Takes Shape — The guys work out how to create a slightly altered die for the quarters. Characters: Benny Location: Philadelphia Mint
• Team Falls Out — The plan appears to be coming together, but the students have a major falling out. Characters: Alice Drake, Jason Hodges, Dakota Cunningham, Benny Location: Dennington Prep

Formal Night Operation

Alice hacks the Mint website and sets the operation for the night of the formal. Jason and Dakota prepare the music distraction while Alice and Benny make the quarters, but production glitches create far more coins than planned and the maintenance truck remains an issue.

Key Events

• Mint Website Hacked — Alice hacks the Mint website, setting the operation for Saturday, the night of the formal. Characters: Alice Drake Location: Dennington Prep
• Formal Night Distraction — Jason and Dakota prepare to play music as a distraction during the operation. Characters: Jason Hodges, Dakota Cunningham Location: Philadelphia Mint
• Coin Production Begins — Alice and Benny begin minting the altered quarters. Characters: Alice Drake, Benny Location: Philadelphia Mint
• Production Glitches — A double glitch produces ten times the needed amount, and the real maintenance truck was not canceled. Characters: Alice Drake, Benny Location: Philadelphia Mint
• Jason and Dakota Assist — Jason and Dakota come to Alice and Benny's aid after the operation goes wrong. Characters: Jason Hodges, Dakota Cunningham, Alice Drake, Benny Location: Philadelphia Mint

Exposure and Bargain

The students initially seem to have escaped discovery, but their art teacher finds out about the heist. The students confront the school board president, identify him as the embezzler, and offer the coins for the money's return and immunity.

Key Events

• Heist Appears Successful — The students seem to have gotten away with the operation. Characters: Alice Drake, Jason Hodges, Dakota Cunningham, Benny Location: Philadelphia Mint
• Art Teacher Discovers Heist — Their art teacher discovers the students' heist. Characters: Alice Drake, Jason Hodges, Dakota Cunningham, Benny Location: Dennington Prep
• Board President Exposed — The students learn the school board president was responsible for the missing ten million dollars. Characters: Alice Drake, Jason Hodges, Dakota Cunningham, Benny Location: School board meeting
• Coins Offered for Immunity — The students offer the coins in exchange for restoring the endowment and granting them immunity. Characters: Alice Drake, Jason Hodges, Dakota Cunningham, Benny Location: School board meeting

A New Beginning

The film closes with Dakota suggesting that she and Benny try a relationship. Jason makes a similar proposal to Alice and suggests attending a normal high school.

Key Events

• Coins Offered for Immunity — The students offer the coins in exchange for restoring the endowment and granting them immunity. Characters: Alice Drake, Jason Hodges, Dakota Cunningham, Benny Location: School board meeting
• New Relationships Proposed — Dakota proposes dating Benny, while Jason proposes dating Alice and attending a normal high school. Characters: Jason Hodges, Alice Drake, Dakota Cunningham, Benny Location: Dennington Prep

Story Breakdown

• Missing School Funds — The embezzlement creates the problem that drives the students' plan.
  • Ten Million Missing — Ten million dollars has been embezzled from the school coffers.
  • Recovery Goal — The students aim to recover some of the stolen money.
• Alice's Coin Scheme — Alice proposes making altered Michigan quarters after the class trip to the Mint inspires her.
  • Mint Trip Inspiration — The students' recent class trip to the Philadelphia Mint informs Alice's idea.
  • Altered Quarters — The planned coins would be worth five thousand dollars each.
• Student Team Forms — The four students pool the skills needed to plan and execute the scheme.
  • Benny's Mechanical Help — Benny contributes mechanical expertise from helping in his uncle's garage.
  • Dakota's Organization — Dakota joins as Jason's organized ex-girlfriend and a member of the team.
• Mint Access Plan — The team prepares to gain access through distraction and computer hacking.
  • Reporter Disguise — Dakota poses as a reporter and distracts the guards and manager.
  • Security Hack — Alice hacks the Mint security system through its computer.
• Operation Faces Friction — The plan develops, the students fall out, and Alice's website hack sets the operation date.
  • Altered Die — The guys work on how to create the slightly altered die.
  • Team Falling Out — The students have a major disagreement just as the plan seems to be coming together.
• Formal Night Minting — The students carry out the operation on Saturday, the night of the formal.
  • Music Distraction — Jason and Dakota prepare to play music.
  • Coin Production — Alice and Benny go to mint the quarters.
• Production Glitches — Unexpected problems disrupt the coin operation and require the rest of the team to help.
  • Excess Quarters — A double glitch produces ten times the amount needed.
  • Uncanceled Truck — The real maintenance truck has not been canceled, and Jason and Dakota come to Alice and Benny's aid.
• Exposure and Negotiation — After the art teacher discovers the heist, the students confront the school board president over the missing funds.
  • Embezzler Revealed — The school board president is identified as the culprit behind the missing ten million dollars.
  • Coins for Immunity — The students offer valuable coins in exchange for restoring the endowment and granting immunity.
• Personal Resolutions — The students consider new relationships and a change in Jason's schooling.
  • Dakota and Benny — Dakota proposes that she and Benny try a relationship.
  • Jason and Alice — Jason proposes a relationship with Alice and attending a normal high school.

Directed by

Emily Hagins

Key Cast

• Alex Saxon — Jason Hodges
• Alexis G. Zall — Alice Drake
• Sasha Pieterse — Dakota Cunningham
• Jay Walker — Benny
• Michael Cyril Creighton — Mr. Todd Rankin