Feeling Butterflies (2022) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

Emily balances a demanding butterfly contract, growing affection, responsibility toward Amanda, and a crisis that remains unresolved.

Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases

Butterflies Against Heartbreak

Emily manages a difficult wedding butterfly release while concealing unresolved heartbreak. She then teaches Amanda about butterflies and gives her a habitat.

Key Events

• Wedding Butterfly Emergency — Emily rushes between malfunctioning equipment and a wedding where she must release butterflies. Characters: Emily Mariposa, Garrett Thorson Location: Wedding venue
• Ceremony Saved — Despite repeated problems, Emily completes the butterfly release for the ceremony. Characters: Emily Mariposa Location: Wedding venue
• Heartbreak Revisited — Emily insists she is over wedding-related heartbreak, though the pain remains visible. Characters: Emily Mariposa Location: Wedding venue
• Butterfly Lesson — Emily explains the butterfly life cycle and the importance of pollinators to children. Characters: Emily Mariposa, Amanda Location: Classroom
• Amanda Receives Habitat — Emily gives Amanda a small habitat for raising butterflies. Characters: Emily Mariposa, Amanda Location: Classroom

The High Profile Contract

Rebecca hires Emily to provide 500 butterflies for a highly publicized wedding. The demanding three-week deadline forces Emily to expand the Flight House with Garrett's help.

Key Events

• Major Wedding Contract — Rebecca hires Emily to raise and release 500 butterflies at a highly publicized wedding. Characters: Emily Mariposa, Rebecca O’Keefe Location: Rebecca's wedding-planning setting
• Three-Week Deadline — Rebecca demands complete control while Emily receives only three weeks to organize the project. Characters: Emily Mariposa, Rebecca O’Keefe Location: Rebecca's wedding-planning setting
• Flight House Expansion — Emily plans an expansion of the Flight House to meet the large order. Characters: Emily Mariposa, Garrett Thorson Location: Flight House
• Garrett Joins Project — Garrett agrees to build the expansion quickly for Emily's deadline. Characters: Emily Mariposa, Garrett Thorson Location: Flight House
• Affection Grows — Their playful and affectionate connection grows while they work on the expansion. Characters: Emily Mariposa, Garrett Thorson Location: Flight House
• Flight House — The Flight House is expanded and used to manage the butterfly project. Characters: Emily Mariposa, Garrett Thorson Location: Flight House

Responsibilities And Affection

Emily and Garrett grow closer while building the expanded facility. Garrett's attempt to arrange Amanda's elite-school placement causes tension and brings Jill into the discussion.

Key Events

• School Placement Plan — Garrett tries to secure Amanda a place at an elite school. Characters: Garrett Thorson, Amanda Location: School-planning setting
• Family Consultation Tension — Garrett's decision creates tension because Amanda's family was not consulted. Characters: Emily Mariposa, Garrett Thorson, Amanda, Jill Location: Personal meeting setting
• Jill's Unexpected Visit — Jill visits unexpectedly and discusses Amanda's future and Garrett's responsibilities. Characters: Garrett Thorson, Jill Location: Personal meeting setting

Disease Threatens The Wedding

An OE infection devastates the caterpillar supply. Emily isolates survivors and searches across suppliers and farms, but still remains hundreds short.

Key Events

• Caterpillar Disease Found — Many caterpillars become infected with OE, threatening the butterfly population. Characters: Emily Mariposa Location: Flight House
• Survivors Isolated — Emily isolates the surviving caterpillars to limit the spread of OE. Characters: Emily Mariposa Location: Flight House
• Milkweed Search — Emily searches for milkweed and contacts suppliers and farmers for replacements. Characters: Emily Mariposa Location: Suppliers and farms
• Four Hundred Short — After gathering available replacements, Emily remains approximately 400 caterpillars short. Characters: Emily Mariposa Location: Flight House

The Rival's Price

Emily approaches Mandy for replacement caterpillars. Mandy refuses without recognition and publicity terms, leaving the wedding project and personal relationships unresolved.

Key Events

• Rival's Previous Bid — Emily turns to Mandy, who previously competed for Rebecca's wedding business. Characters: Emily Mariposa, Mandy Fisher, Rebecca O’Keefe Location: Butterfly business setting
• Mandy Refuses Donation — Mandy refuses to donate caterpillars without addressing credit and publicity. Characters: Emily Mariposa, Mandy Fisher Location: Mandy's butterfly facility
• Credit Dispute — Mandy accuses Emily of taking the job and demands recognition for her contribution. Characters: Emily Mariposa, Mandy Fisher Location: Mandy's butterfly facility
• Butterfly Supply Negotiation — Emily and Mandy negotiate over the remaining butterflies needed for the wedding project. Characters: Emily Mariposa, Mandy Fisher Location: Mandy's butterfly facility
• Unresolved Wedding Project — The available story ends before the butterfly shortage and wedding contract are resolved. Characters: Emily Mariposa, Mandy Fisher, Rebecca O’Keefe Location: Wedding-project setting
• Unresolved Personal Ties — Emily and Garrett's relationship and the debate over Amanda's future remain unresolved. Characters: Emily Mariposa, Garrett Thorson, Amanda, Jill Location: Personal meeting setting

Story Breakdown

• Wedding Rescue — Emily's work begins with a difficult butterfly release that echoes her unresolved feelings about weddings.
  • Equipment Failure — Emily rushes between malfunctioning equipment and the wedding ceremony.
  • Ceremony Completed — Emily and her best friend manage to complete the butterfly release.
• Butterfly Education — Emily shares her knowledge with children and encourages Amanda's independent interest in butterflies.
  • Life Cycle Lesson — Emily explains the Eastern Tailed Blue butterfly and pollinators.
  • Amanda's Habitat — Emily gives Amanda a pop-up habitat for raising butterflies.
• Rebecca's Contract — A high-profile wedding creates the central professional opportunity and its severe deadline.
  • Five Hundred Butterflies — Rebecca hires Emily to raise and release 500 butterflies.
  • Three Week Deadline — Rebecca demands control while Emily organizes the project in three weeks.
• Flight House Expansion — Emily and Garrett join forces to enlarge the facility and prepare for the contract.
  • Garrett Builds — Garrett agrees to build the expansion quickly.
  • Affection Grows — Their playful and affectionate connection develops during the work.
• Amanda's Future — Garrett's attempt to secure Amanda's elite-school placement raises questions about responsibility and consultation.
  • Elite School Plan — Garrett tries to obtain a place for Amanda at an elite school.
  • Jill's Visit — Jill discusses Amanda's future and Garrett's responsibilities.
• Caterpillar Crisis — OE disease destroys much of the supply and forces Emily into a difficult negotiation with Mandy.
  • OE Infection — Many caterpillars become infected, requiring Emily to isolate survivors.
  • Four Hundred Short — Emily searches for replacements but remains about 400 caterpillars short.
• Rivalry And Negotiation — Mandy's prior competition with Emily becomes a dispute over caterpillars, credit, and publicity.
  • Mandy Refuses — Mandy refuses to donate caterpillars without addressing recognition and publicity.
  • Unresolved Terms — The story ends while Emily and Mandy negotiate over the remaining butterflies.

Directed by

MJ Grabiak

Key Cast

• Kayla Wallace — Emily Mariposa
• Kevin McGarry — Garrett Thorson
• Alyssa Gervasi — Amanda
• Ish Morris — Jodi
• Kathryn Kohut — Mandy Fisher