Founder

"Creating stories that connect and entertain with heart, vision and teamwork"

Tai Bacani

Tai Bacani is a filmmaker, producer, and actor based in Rhode Island, and the founder of Tailand Productions, an independent film company dedicated to telling bold, emotionally driven stories that inspire audiences to reclaim their power and choose their own destiny.

With a Bachelor’s degree in Film Production and Psychology, along with a Master’s degree in Adult Education, Tai brings a unique blend of creative vision and deep understanding of human behavior to her work. Her storytelling is rooted in authenticity, emotional intelligence, and a passion for personal transformation. Both on and off screen.

Tai is the creator behind narrative films such as Second Thoughts and Southpaw, as well as the upcoming project Blessings from Being Bullied, a powerful story centered on overcoming adversity and stepping into personal strength. Through her work, she aims not only to entertain, but to spark meaningful conversations and create lasting impact.

Beyond filmmaking, Tai is an active leader in her community. She serves on the board of Women in Film & Video New England, supporting the growth and visibility of underrepresented voices in the industry. She is also a dedicated board member of the Warwick Junior Hockey Association (WJHA), where she contributes to building a strong, connected community for young athletes, including her 11-year-old son, Bean.

Through Tailand Productions, Tai is building a brand rooted in creativity, empowerment, and connection. She is creating work that not only tells powerful stories, but strives to make the world a better place, one kind act at a time.

Get to know Tai a little more

Describe your role in one sentence

Tai Bacani is a filmmaker, producer, and founder of Tailand Productions, a Rhode Island-based production company focused on creating meaningful, character-driven films and building a supportive, inclusive film community.

When I’m not creating, I’m probably at a hockey rink or baseball field with my son, playing softball, volunteering in my community, traveling somewhere new, or planning my next adventure—usually while dreaming up my next project.

One of the most valuable parts of the Design Catalyst Program has been being surrounded by other like-minded creatives who understand both the excitement and challenges of building a creative business. Having dedicated time to step away from the day-to-day and really focus on my business has been incredibly valuable. I’ve also loved the sense of community, the in-depth knowledge and experience each of the experts brings to the program, and having people who can help steer me in the right direction as I turn my ideas and goals into a clear path forward.

The story I’m telling through my business is that great stories can be created without losing the humanity behind them. Tailand Productions is about bringing meaningful, character-driven stories to life while creating a space where people feel valued, respected, safe, and excited to create. I want to tell stories that give a voice to people and perspectives we don’t always get to see, while building a stronger creative community here in Rhode Island. At the heart of it, I want to prove that you can make great films, build a successful business, and still treat people well along the way.

The most important aspect of being a business owner is staying true to your purpose while being willing to learn, grow, and adapt along the way. For me, it’s also about the people; building relationships, creating a positive environment, and making sure the people I work with feel valued. Success isn’t just about what you create or how much your business grows; it’s about how you treat people and the impact you make along the way.

I started Tailand Productions because I wanted to build the kind of film industry I wanted to be a part of. I wanted people to be able to have a career in film while still having a life, being treated like human beings, and having the opportunity to learn and grow.

As an actress, I became tired of seeing so many roles for women centered around taking off our clothes, kissing someone, or simply supporting someone else’s story. I wanted to tell stories about women who are dimensional—smart, funny, complicated, strong, flawed, and interesting.

But it wasn’t only about changing the stories we tell. I wanted to change the experience of making them, too. I wanted to create an environment where people feel respected, supported, and excited to come to work; where emerging filmmakers can learn alongside experienced professionals; and where we can create great work without sacrificing the people making it.

Ultimately, I started my business because I wanted to build a world I want to live in.

Tailand Productions is working to change the world by changing both the stories we tell and the way we tell them. We create multidimensional characters (especially women) whose stories go beyond stereotypes and allow audiences to see people as complicated, funny, intelligent, imperfect, and real.

Just as importantly, I want to help create a healthier film industry. That means treating cast and crew like human beings, respecting that people have families and lives outside of a production, creating safe and supportive sets, and giving emerging filmmakers opportunities to learn and grow.

I may not be able to change the entire film industry overnight, but I can change the experience of the people who work with me. And as those people take that experience with them to their next project, I hope we create a ripple effect that makes this industry and our little corner of the world a better place.

When being a business owner gets hard, I keep moving. There is always something to work on, a new idea to explore, or another project in the works, and that excitement about what’s coming next keeps me motivated. But I’ve also learned that constantly being busy isn’t always the answer. Sometimes what I need most is a quiet moment—to step away, enjoy my life, travel, play softball, or just spend time with my son. Those moments remind me why I’m working so hard in the first place. For me, it’s about finding that balance between being excited about what’s next and appreciating the life I’m building right now.

My inspiration usually starts with a big idea, and then I keep adding layers to it—characters, experiences, conversations, and little moments pulled from real life. I want my stories to feel authentic enough that people can see a piece of themselves in them.

One of my favorite moments as a filmmaker was when a friend stopped me and told me she had been struggling with her relationship. She watched one of my films and connected so deeply with the story that it helped her work through a difficult decision in her own life. That has always stayed with me.

That’s what inspires me to keep creating. I want to entertain people, but I also want them to feel something—to laugh, think, recognize themselves, or maybe even see their own lives a little differently because of a story I told.

I’m looking forward to growing Tailand Productions right here in Rhode Island while having our stories reach people around the world. I want to help build a stronger film community in Rhode Island, create more opportunities for local filmmakers to learn, grow, and build sustainable careers, and show that meaningful work can come from our little state and have a much bigger reach. Ultimately, I want the growth of my business to allow me to help more people, both here at home and around the world, through the stories we tell and the opportunities we create.

Something that might surprise people is that I can actually be somewhat of an introvert. I live a very big, public life. I’m constantly creating, meeting new people, attending events, and putting myself and my work out into the world but I also really value my privacy. It’s important to me to keep some parts of who I am and what I do just for myself and the people closest to me. I love connecting with people, but I’ve learned that having that private space is what allows me to recharge and continue showing up for everything else.

The most rewarding part of being a creative and business owner isn’t only seeing my work connect with people. It’s watching people connect with each other because of something I created.

One of the moms on one of my sets came up to me and shared that her daughter had always had a really difficult time making friends. The other girls on set welcomed her, included her, and added her to their group chat. Hearing that meant so much to me.

Those are the moments that remind me that what we’re creating is bigger than a film. We’re creating a community where people can find their place, build confidence, learn, grow, and form relationships that can continue long after the cameras stop rolling. That is incredibly rewarding to me.

I wish people knew that owning a creative business is wonderfully rewarding, but it is also a lot of work. Yes, I get to make my own schedule, but the reality is that I’m almost always working. I can be at all of my son’s games, which is incredibly important to me, but my phone is usually going off while I’m there.

At this stage of my business, I don’t always have a backup person who can step in when I can’t, so I work when I’m sick, I work on vacation, and sometimes I work at times when I would much rather shut my computer off.

But I also genuinely love what I do. I love waking up knowing that every day is going to be different. I love creating, meeting people, building something of my own, and having the flexibility to be present for the things that matter most to me.

It’s not always easy, but I’m incredibly thankful for the life I’ve built—and I wouldn’t trade it for a more predictable one.

To me, design is taking an idea or a feeling and intentionally building an experience around it. It’s not just about how something looks. it’s about how it makes someone feel, what it communicates, and what they take away from it.

In filmmaking, I’m designing an entire world: the story, the characters, the visuals, the environment on set, and ultimately the experience of the audience. I think I approach my business the same way. I’m designing not only the work I want to create, but the kind of company I want to work for, the community I want to be part of, and, in a way, the life I want to live.

For me, design is turning an idea of what could be into something real.

I think the biggest thing I would want people to know is that I’m still building. I don’t have everything figured out, and honestly, I hope I never stop learning, growing, and dreaming bigger.

Tailand Productions started with an idea of creating the kind of film company I wanted to work for, but it has grown into something much bigger for me. I want to help build a thriving film community right here in Rhode Island, create opportunities for people who might not otherwise get them, and make films that connect with audiences far beyond our little state.

I’m incredibly grateful for how far I’ve come, for the people who have become part of this journey, and for programs like Design Catalyst that have challenged me to think bigger about what this business can become.

I’m excited to see where we go next.