Boys State (2020) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

Teenage participants construct a government and test the possibilities and tensions of campaigning, party leadership, and democratic decision-making.

Story Structure — 4 Plot Phases

A Government Takes Shape

The teenage participants arrive in Austin and are randomly assigned to the Nationalist or Federalist party. Candidates begin gathering the signatures needed to enter the gubernatorial primaries.

Key Events

• Arrival at Boys State — Teenage participants arrive to build a representative government from the ground up. Characters: Self Location: Austin, Texas
• Party Assignments — The participants are randomly divided into the Nationalist and Federalist parties. Characters: Self Location: Boys State, Austin
• Signature Threshold — Those seeking the governorship must collect 30 signatures to reach the primary ballot. Characters: Self Location: Boys State, Austin
• Candidates Qualify — MacDougall qualifies easily, while Garza reaches the required signature count just before the deadline. Characters: Self Location: Boys State, Austin

Party Leaders and Primaries

Otero becomes Nationalist chairman despite an unsuccessful impeachment motion. Feinstein abandons his gubernatorial plans after meeting Proietti Conti and becomes Federalist chairman, while Garza and MacDougall compete in the Nationalist primary.

Key Events

• Otero Elected Chairman — Otero delivers a powerful speech and is elected Nationalist state chairman. Characters: Self Location: Nationalist party gathering
• Impeachment Motion Fails — An impeachment motion against Otero is brought forward and easily fails. Characters: Self Location: Nationalist party gathering
• Feinstein Steps Aside — After meeting Proietti Conti, Feinstein decides not to run for governor. Characters: Self Location: Federalist dormitory
• Federalist Chairman Chosen — Feinstein is elected state chairman of the Federalists. Characters: Self Location: Federalist party gathering
• Garza Faces Policy Questions — Voters question Garza about March for Our Lives and his views on abortion and immigration. Characters: Self Location: Nationalist primary forum
• MacDougall Loses Primary — MacDougall presents himself as conservative but appears less passionate and loses to Garza. Characters: Self Location: Nationalist primary

Campaigns Move Online

Garza wins the Nationalist primary, and Proietti Conti becomes the Federalist candidate. The Federalists' meme page helps spark online attack pages, but a racist attack on Otero leads the party to distance itself from further meme pages.

Key Events

• Proietti Conti Nominated — The Federalists select Proietti Conti as their gubernatorial candidate. Characters: Self Location: Federalist party gathering
• Meme Campaign Begins — The Federalists launch a meme page, prompting a wider trend of political attack pages. Characters: Self Location: Boys State, Austin
• Racist Attack Page — A page makes a racist attack on Otero, and the party disavows making further meme pages. Characters: Self Location: Online campaign space

A Contested Finish

Otero prevents Proietti Conti from holding an unrequested Q&A at a speaking event. Feinstein subsequently accuses Otero of bias at a forum, before the participants vote and elect Proietti Conti governor.

Key Events

• Q&A Is Disallowed — Otero disallows Proietti Conti's attempted Q&A, saying it was not requested in advance. Characters: Self Location: Campaign speaking event
• Bias Accusation at Forum — Feinstein uses the denied Q&A to accuse Otero of bias at the next forum. Characters: Self Location: Campaign forum
• Governor Elected — The participants cast their votes, and Proietti Conti is elected governor. Characters: Self Location: Boys State election

Story Breakdown

• Arrival and Party Formation — Participants arrive in Austin and begin organizing themselves into political parties.
  • Austin Arrival — Teenage participants gather for the program.
  • Random Party Assignment — Participants are divided into Nationalists and Federalists.
• The Ballot Threshold — Gubernatorial hopefuls face the signature requirement for entry to the primary ballot.
  • Thirty Signatures — Candidates must collect 30 signatures to qualify.
  • Late Qualification — Garza reaches the threshold just before the deadline, while MacDougall does so easily.
• Nationalist Leadership — Otero rises to party leadership while facing a failed impeachment challenge.
  • Chairman Speech — Otero gives a powerful speech and is elected Nationalist chairman.
  • Impeachment Defeated — A motion to impeach Otero easily fails.
• Federalist Choices — Feinstein changes his plans, and the Federalists establish their party leadership and candidate.
  • Feinstein Steps Aside — After meeting Proietti Conti, Feinstein decides not to run for governor.
  • Federalist Leadership — Feinstein becomes state chairman, and Proietti Conti is chosen as the gubernatorial candidate.
• Nationalist Primary Contest — Garza and MacDougall compete for the Nationalist gubernatorial nomination amid questions about policy and presentation.
  • Questions for Garza — Voters raise Garza's March for Our Lives participation and his views on abortion and immigration.
  • Garza Wins — MacDougall's conservative positioning appears less passionate, and he loses the primary to Garza.
• Digital Campaign Conflict — Online campaign tactics spread, then provoke a backlash after a racist attack on Otero.
  • Meme Page Launch — The Federalists start a meme page, inspiring a trend of political attack pages.
  • Party Disavowal — After a racist attack page targets Otero, the party disavows creating more meme pages.
• Forum and Election — A dispute over a candidate Q&A develops into a charge of bias before the final vote.
  • Q&A Denied — Otero disallows Proietti Conti's Q&A because it was not requested beforehand.
  • Governor Elected — Feinstein accuses Otero of bias at a forum, and Proietti Conti wins the election.

Directed by

Jesse Moss, Amanda McBaine

Key Cast

• Ben Feinstein — Self
• Steven Garza — Self
• Robert MacDougall — Self
• René Otero — Self
• Eddy Proietti Conti — Self