Making indie magic: alum finds film, family and purpose

For filmmaker Kealani Kitaura ’12, success isn’t measured in million-dollar budgets or glitzy Hollywood premieres. It’s found in the quiet power of giving people a voice.

“I used to think success meant having a big studio budget, but now I think it means having the resources to create art at all, and a platform to share those stories with the world,” she said. “That’s more rewarding than anything monetary.”

Kitaura is a producer and actress in the indie film scene, where she collaborates with a team of creatives throughout the Bay Area and Los Angeles to bring projects to life. Through her company, Tiny Rabbit Productions, she’s worked on everything from commercials and short films to full-length features.

“My dream isn’t one big project,” she said. “It’s getting to keep working with this amazing group of filmmakers. They’re kind, driven, creative — it’s like a film family.”

The team recently wrapped up shooting a sci-fi thriller about trauma and healing, with a few multiverse twists. The film, Another (2025), features actors from the hit CW series, The 100, a post-apocalyptic drama series.

Kitaura also starred in historical fiction piece, Kintsukuroi, a story that depicts the forced internment of more than 110,000 Japanese Americans and immigrants during World War II. Shot across familiar locations in the Bay Area — like the Japanese American Museum in San Jose, a Buddhist temple in San Francisco, and a historic train station in Suisun — Kintsukuroi (2024) came together because “the community believed in the story.”

“Everyone donated their time, energy, and talents,” Kitaura said. “It was an incredible show of support.”

What made the experience even more powerful for Kitaura was collaborating with renowned civil rights activist, Chizu Omori, 94, who, as a child, was incarcerated at the same camp in Arizona as Kitaura’s grandmother. 

“Chizu was sort of like our compass on set,” Kitaura said. “She made sure the story stayed true to what actually happened, down to little details about daily life like what people ate and how they lived. Being able to work with her was such an honor.”

Finding her voice at UC Davis 

Kitaura’s journey to filmmaking began in Redwood City, Calif., a suburban community in the Bay Area, but coming to UC Davis opened her eyes to a world of possibilities.

“Davis was where I started to feel comfortable in my own skin,” she said. “It’s the first time I truly felt surrounded by a diverse range of perspectives.” 

She majored in studio art, with a focus on video and oil painting. Two UC Davis faculty members left a lasting impact on Kitaura: Art Professor Darrin Martin and Jesse Drew, professor of cinema and digital media. 

“That time really shaped me,” she said. “It gave me the confidence to connect with people and the tools to tell stories that matter. Those classroom discussions still influence how I approach my work today.”

Outside of the classroom, Kitaura found family and friends at UC Davis as vice president of social activities for the Japanese American Student Society. She organized events, community service days, ski trips and an intercollegiate Japanese American conference at UC Davis. 

“It was more than just a club — it was a home base,” she said. “It was a way to stay connected to my culture and meet people who shared that same connection.”

After graduation, Kealani taught English in Japan before returning to California and working in finance. But the creative urge stayed strong. An acting class she took for personal growth reconnected her with storytelling. 

“It was more like therapy — learning about yourself by being vulnerable,” she said.

Navigating the business side of indie filmmaking — finding funding, paying teams fairly — has been a welcome challenge for Kitaura.

“Most of us aren’t making a lot of money, but even that helps local artists do what they love,” she said. “We’re hoping for more funding in the future, but I want to keep it indie. That’s where the honest voices are.”

To explore Kitaura’s work, follow her on Instagram @kealani777 for updates on her latest films and collaborations.