Smiley Face (2007) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

After accidentally eating cannabis-laced cupcakes, Jane spends an increasingly chaotic day trying to meet her obligations and pay a debt, with escalating mishaps culminating in the loss of a borrowed book and her arrest.

Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases

Cupcakes and a Mounting Debt

Jane accidentally eats the cannabis-laced cupcakes and becomes increasingly intoxicated. Remembering her obligations, she learns that her dealer expects payment at the Venice Beach hemp festival.

Key Events

• Jane Eats the Cupcakes — Jane eats the cupcakes Steve had set aside for a convention and realizes they contain cannabis. Characters: Jane F., Steve the Roommate Location: Jane's home
• A Day of Urgent Errands — As her intoxication intensifies, Jane recalls her bill, audition, and other obligations. Characters: Jane F. Location: Los Angeles
• The Debt Comes Due — Steve the Dealer demands repayment and threatens to take Jane's furniture. Characters: Jane F., Steve the Dealer Location: Phone call
• Festival Payment Deadline — Steve tells Jane to meet him with the money at the Venice Beach hemp festival. Characters: Jane F., Steve the Dealer Location: Phone call
• The Butter Burns — Phone calls from her Agent and boyfriend distract Jane while she makes replacement cupcakes, and the butter burns. Characters: Jane F., Agent Location: Jane's home

Failed Attempts to Raise Money

Jane tries to remake the cupcakes, but distractions ruin the cannabis-infused butter. At her audition, her attempt to sell marijuana ends with her flushing it when the Casting Director appears to contact the police.

Key Events

• The Butter Burns — Phone calls from her Agent and boyfriend distract Jane while she makes replacement cupcakes, and the butter burns. Characters: Jane F., Agent Location: Jane's home
• A Risky Audition Sale — Jane offers her marijuana to the Casting Director and another actress to raise money. Characters: Jane F., Casting Director, Actress in Waiting Room Location: Audition location
• Marijuana Flushed Away — When the Casting Director appears to call the police, Jane panics and flushes the marijuana down a toilet. Characters: Jane F., Casting Director Location: Audition location
• Jane Calls for Money — Jane cold-calls acquaintances in search of money to pay her debt. Characters: Jane F. Location: Los Angeles

A Loan and a Stolen Wallet

Jane reaches Brevin, who agrees to loan her money after his dental appointment. After they discover his car has been broken into and police arrive, Jane flees to her former professor's home.

Key Events

• Brevin Offers a Loan — Jane reaches Brevin, who agrees to loan her money after his dental appointment. Characters: Jane F., Brevin Location: Phone call
• The Dental Appointment — Jane accompanies Brevin to his appointment and notices her former professor's home nearby. Characters: Jane F., Brevin Location: Dental office
• Brevin's Car Is Broken Into — They discover Brevin's car has been broken into and his wallet, left on the dashboard, is missing. Characters: Jane F., Brevin Location: Near the dental office
• Jane Flees the Police — When police arrive to question them, paranoid Jane flees to her former professor's home. Characters: Jane F., Brevin Location: Near Brevin's car
• The Manifesto Entrusted — The professor's mother mistakes Jane for his teaching assistant and entrusts her with the book. Characters: Jane F. Location: Former professor's home

The Manifesto's Misguided Journey

Entrusted with a first edition of The Communist Manifesto, Jane decides to use it to settle her debt. Her attempt to reach Venice Beach takes her to El Monte and then onward by car, on foot, and by motorcycle.

Key Events

• The Manifesto Entrusted — The professor's mother mistakes Jane for his teaching assistant and entrusts her with the book. Characters: Jane F. Location: Former professor's home
• The Book Becomes Payment — Jane decides to use the book to pay off her debt to Steve the Dealer. Characters: Jane F., Steve the Dealer Location: Los Angeles
• A Wrong Truck Ride — Jane stows away in a truck she believes is going to Venice Beach, but it takes her to El Monte. Characters: Jane F. Location: Truck
• A Ride from the Plant — A factory worker agrees to drive Jane toward her destination. Characters: Jane F. Location: Meat-packing plant in El Monte
• Jane Continues on Foot — After an accident causes a traffic jam, Jane leaves the car and continues on foot. Characters: Jane F. Location: Road near a traffic jam
• A Motorcycle Ride to Venice — A woman riding a motorcycle gives Jane a ride. Characters: Jane F., Motorcycle Rider Location: Road to Venice Beach

The Boardwalk Reckoning

Jane reaches Venice Beach after the festival has ended and boards a Ferris wheel using found tickets. She tries to attract the attention of people searching below, but the book falls and its pages scatter; she is arrested and sentenced.

Key Events

• The Festival Has Ended — Jane arrives and discovers that the hemp festival is already over. Characters: Jane F. Location: Venice Beach
• Tickets to the Ferris Wheel — Jane finds tickets and uses them to board the Ferris wheel. Characters: Jane F., Ferris Wheel Attendant Location: Venice Beach Boardwalk
• Familiar Faces Search Below — From the ride, Jane sees people she encountered that day looking for her on the boardwalk. Characters: Jane F. Location: Ferris wheel, Venice Beach Boardwalk
• The Book Falls Apart — Jane waves to attract attention, and the book slips from her hands, scattering its pages. Characters: Jane F. Location: Ferris wheel, Venice Beach Boardwalk
• Arrest and Sentence — Jane is arrested and receives a suspended five-year sentence and 1,500 hours of community service. Characters: Jane F. Location: Venice Beach

Story Breakdown

• Cupcake Mishap — Jane's accidental consumption of the cupcakes sets her difficult day in motion.
  • Cannabis-Laced Cupcakes — Jane eats the cupcakes Steve the Roommate had set aside for a convention.
  • Forgotten Obligations — As her intoxication grows, Jane remembers her electric bill and audition.
• Dealer's Debt — Steve the Dealer's demand gives Jane a deadline and a destination.
  • Furniture Threat — Steve threatens to take Jane's furniture if she cannot pay.
  • Festival Meeting — He instructs her to bring the money to the Venice Beach hemp festival.
• Audition Setback — Jane's attempts to prepare replacement cupcakes and earn money at her audition both fail.
  • Burned Butter — Phone calls distract Jane while she makes cannabis-infused butter.
  • Flushed Marijuana — Jane flushes her stash after the Casting Director appears to contact the police.
• Brevin's Lost Wallet — Brevin offers a loan, but events around his dental appointment send Jane fleeing.
  • Loan Offer — Brevin agrees to lend Jane money after his appointment.
  • Police Arrival — After they find his car broken into, police arrive and Jane runs away.
• The Borrowed Manifesto — Jane receives a valuable book by mistake and decides to use it to pay her debt.
  • Mother's Mistake — The professor's mother mistakes Jane for his teaching assistant and entrusts her with the book.
  • Book as Payment — Jane decides the first edition might settle what she owes.
• Misrouted Journey — Jane's attempt to reach Venice Beach is derailed by a wrong truck journey and traffic.
  • Truck to El Monte — The truck Jane boards takes her to a meat-packing plant in El Monte.
  • Rides Toward Venice — A factory worker drives her onward, and a motorcycle rider later gives her a lift.
• Ferris Wheel Reckoning — At Venice Beach, Jane's effort to draw attention ends with the book's destruction and her arrest.
  • Festival Already Over — Jane arrives after the hemp festival has ended and uses found tickets to board the Ferris wheel.
  • Scattered Pages — Jane waves to people below, the book falls apart, and she is arrested and sentenced.

Directed by

Gregg Araki

Key Cast

• Anna Faris — Jane F.
• John Krasinski — Brevin
• Adam Brody — Steve the Dealer
• Jane Lynch — Casting Director
• Roscoe Lee Browne — Himself (voice)