- - Man Surprises Girlfriend with Movie About Their 10-Year Love Story, Then Proposes in Theater (Exclusive)

Erin ClackJanuary 22, 2026 at 7:30 AM

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Janna Em/TikTok; Camie Ding Photography

Janna Mae reacts to Austin Kuniyoshi's proposal movie; Janna Mae and Austin Kuniyoshi -

One California couple got engaged with a movie-worthy proposal

Austin Kuniyoshi invited girlfriend Janna Mae to an artist showcase at a local theater, where she was surprised to find out that their love story was the starring attraction

Austin created and screened a short film about their relationship, which culminated with a live proposal in front of an audience filled with their family and friends

California couple Janna Mae and Austin Kuniyoshi's engagement was straight out of a romantic movie.

Inspired by the pair's shared love of performance arts and film — and knowing that Janna loves grand gestures — Austin, 30, surprised his then-girlfriend, 31, with a cinematic proposal. On Dec. 5, 2025, he invited Janna, a freelance video producer and creator, to what she thought was a local artist showcase at the East West Players theater in Los Angeles.

Janna tells PEOPLE she expected to watch a series of dance performances and short films, but as she took her seat and the event began, she was shocked to see some familiar faces on screen — friends from high school and college, where the couple first met. Then, she heard Austin's voice in the movie.

"By that point, I had a feeling this was going to be a proposal," Janna says.

Camie Ding Photography

Austin Kuniyoshi and Janna Mae pose outside the East West Players theater

The film, secretly put together by Austin, told the story of their relationship — and also continued a screenplay that Austin wrote and gifted to Janna on their very first Christmas together. For nearly a year leading up to the proposal, Austin meticulously planned the surprise, using Google Sheets to organize all the details and tapping the couple's friends for help.

"He assembled friends from different backgrounds, skill sets and points in our lives to contribute to all the different parts of the proposal. From filming to acting to dancing, it was a community effort," Janna tells PEOPLE.

One highlight of Austin's short film was a choreographed dance that he performed with his old dance team at UCLA, Samahang Modern. "I used to go to all of their performances and competitions just to see him dance," Janna says. "More recently, I’ve been telling him that I missed watching him dance like he used to, so that inspired him to choreograph an original dance piece and get his old dance team together."

Austin, an office supervisor, taught the group the routine in a single day, and they filmed it for the proposal movie in the same location where Janna took Austin's dance class 11 years ago, before she even knew who he was. (The two officially met when they were paired up as love interests for a cultural dance and music performance in college.)

The movie also featured cameos from the couple's dogs, Goldendoodles Tophee and Tala.

Janna shared a video on TikTok that captures her reaction to being surprised by the movie. At first, she could be heard asking, "What?! What is happening?" and later, she covered her face with her program as she watched in shock.

When the movie ended, the sound of a ukulele playing could be heard in the theater. Austin then began walking down the aisle toward the stage, strumming the instrument as he sang Ingrid Michaelson's "The Way I Am."

Brandon Isem

Austin Kuniyoshi and Janna Mae

"That was the song he serenaded me with privately when he asked me to be his girlfriend [10 years ago]," Janna explains.

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Recalling Austin's sudden appearance in the theater, she says she "blacked out for a portion of it."

"I was still reeling in shock from the short film and that he made that," she says. "There’s a saying in Tagalog called 'kilig,' which is similar to the feeling of having butterflies in your stomach, and I was definitely feeling the kilig when he walked in and started singing."

As Austin finished the song, he pulled Janna up onto the stage, took her hand and asked her to marry him. "I was nervous and definitely self-conscious because I knew there was an audience behind me and had no idea who was watching," she remembers of the moment. "But for the most part, I was just really feeling so much love for this man who put in so much effort for almost the entire year of 2025 to put it all together."

Brandon Isem

Austin Kuniyoshi and Janna Mae posing with family

Janna said "yes" — and then came another surprise. As she looked out into the audience from the stage, she spotted the couple's friends and family members, who had been hiding behind their programs when she first entered the theater.

"Austin also invited my parents and had them hide in the corner so that I wouldn’t see them when I first walked in," Janna says. "They came out of hiding right after the proposal. I had no idea and burst out crying as soon as I saw them."

For the bride-to-be, the creative — and uniquely personalized — proposal was better than her "wildest dreams." Janna even admits that when Austin told her about the extensive planning process for the surprise, she was "jealous" not to have been a part of it all.

Camie Ding Photography

Austin Kuniyoshi and Janna Mae

"It involved being on set, writing, directing, producing — literally everything I love about filmmaking and the arts," she explains.

Not missing a beat, Austin even made sure that the couple would have footage of the emotional proposal for posterity, asking friends in the audience to take lots of photos and videos throughout the night.

Camie Ding Photography

Austin Kuniyoshi and Janna Mae

Reflecting on her relationship with Austin, Janna says he’s one of the few people with whom she can truly be herself.

"Over the years, we’ve cultivated a very safe and comfortable environment for both of us," she says. "I think what I love most about him is how attentive he is. From catching all my quirks, to remembering small details and things I love, and making sure I’m taken care of — I feel like he knows me more than I know myself."

His thoughtful proposal, she adds, is a testament to that.

As for their wedding plans, Janna tells PEOPLE that she and Austin are going to take some time to enjoy their engagement and save up for their big day. After all, the wedding has to be as "epic" as the proposal — "only this time I can finally be part of the process," she says.

on People

Original Article on Source

Source: “AOL Entertainment”