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

A California couple’s engagement played out like a scene from a romantic movie — because, in many ways, it was one.

Inspired by their shared love of performance arts and film, and knowing his girlfriend Janna Mae loves grand gestures, Austin Kuniyoshi, 30, planned a cinematic surprise she’d never see coming. On Dec. 5, 2025, he invited Janna, 31 — a freelance video producer and creator — to what she believed was a local artist showcase at the East West Players theater in Los Angeles.

Janna expected a lineup of dance performances and short films. But once she took her seat and the screening began, familiar faces started appearing on screen — friends from high school and college, where the couple first met. Then she heard Austin’s voice in the film.

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

The movie, secretly created by Austin, told the story of their relationship — and continued a screenplay he had written and gifted to Janna during their first Christmas together. For nearly a year, Austin mapped out the entire surprise with careful precision, using Google Sheets to track details and coordinating with friends to bring the production to life.

“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 says.

One standout moment in the film: a choreographed dance Austin performed with his former UCLA dance team, 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 routine in a single day. The group filmed the scene in the same location where Janna took Austin’s dance class 11 years earlier — before she even knew who he was. (The two officially met later, when they were paired as love interests for a cultural dance and music performance in college.)

The film also included cameos from their dogs, Goldendoodles Tophee and Tala.

Janna later shared a TikTok capturing her reaction. In the beginning, she can be heard asking, “What?! What is happening?” As the film continued, she covered her face with her program, overwhelmed by the surprise.

Then the movie ended — and the next twist began.

A ukulele rang out through the theater. Austin appeared, walking down the aisle toward the stage, strumming as he sang Ingrid Michaelson’s “The Way I Am.”

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

Looking back, 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.”

When Austin finished, he led Janna 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 says. “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.”

Janna said yes — and then came another reveal. From the stage, she finally saw who had been sitting behind her: friends and family, hiding in plain sight behind their programs from the moment she walked in.

“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 Janna, the creative — deeply personal — proposal exceeded her “wildest dreams.” And when she learned just how extensive the planning had been, she admits she felt a little jealous she couldn’t be part of it.

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

Not missing a beat, Austin also ensured the moment would be documented. He asked friends in the audience to capture photos and videos throughout the night so they’d have the memory preserved from every angle.

Reflecting on their relationship, Janna says Austin is one of the few people with whom she can fully 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 proposal, she adds, is proof of that attentiveness.

As for wedding plans, Janna says the couple is taking time to enjoy their engagement and save for the celebration ahead. After all, the wedding will need to match the proposal’s scale — “only this time I can finally be part of the process,” she says.