Don White

Don White is from Colonial Heights, Virginia, where he began making Super-8 films with his brothers at the age of 10. After graduating from Liberty University with a Bachelor's Degree in Telecommunications, concentrating in television production and journalism, White was hired to launch a new video production division at TransAmerica, a media company in Lynchburg, Virginia. While producing and directing videos for various clients, Don also freelanced with ESPN and other sports networks on the weekends. Over the next several years he continued his education in pursuing filmmaking through the Hollywood Film Institute, Eastman Kodak, and Regent University programs. Don directed a series of award-winning short films under the title, "Courageous Living" for the American Association of Christian Counselors, which garnered several Telly Awards. Texas film director, Danny Carrales hired White to shoot his independent movie, The Gathering (1998), which won several awards including the Gold Plaque Award from the Chicago Film Festival. Don joined Metro Productions in Richmond, producing videos for large clientele and government contracts, including Imperial College of London, Virginia Institute of Marine Science, and the U.S. Army. He also directed short-subject historical documentaries for The Vacation Channel. In 2001, White became the program director for the nationally syndicated television program, There's Hope America, which aired on numerous networks and local affiliates for almost ten years. During that time, he also produced a weekly television talk show, a live call-in web program, and directed hundreds of live worship services from First Redeemer Church in metro-Atlanta. In 2012, Don White joined the mega-church full-time as executive media director, and began expanding the media department, producing promos, testimonials, and stories of faith. White directed the short film, An Unexpected Christmas (2014), a lighthearted and comical view of what heaven would be through the eyes of a child. A boy imagines what it must have been for God to explain to the angels, his decision to send Jesus down to earth as a baby, to be born in a manger. The "all-children" citizens of heaven had some pretty humorous reactions to this announcement. In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, White directed a multi-venue Christmas musical with a full choir and orchestra, all socially-distanced, and recorded at separate times. He and his team then edited the footage, combining all of the musicians and vocalists into a seamless concert. The television program had multiple broadcasts in Atlanta, leading up to Christmas, and received highly favorable reviews as many Christmas specials that year were re-runs from previous seasons. Don then directed the comedy drama, The Glory of Christmas (2021), adapted from the television series of the same name, created by The Skit Guys. The story centers around a group of church members attempting to put on a stage production for their annual Christmas play. The cast discover through their own fallibilities, what the real people whom they are depicting - Joseph, Mary, the Wise Man, and the Shepherd, must have felt like. This humorous, yet poignant story, told through the eyes of a very anxious stage director, ultimately demonstrates the true miracle, and glory of Christmas. In 2022, White directed a music video, Color the World, to accompany a stage presentation for First Redeemer Church's annual Vacation Bible School rallies. The stage play depicts a fictitious pop-star, Serenity Cross, who hires Spark Studios to produce a music video for her new hit song. The peculiar creatives, led by one eccentric video director, spend their time discovering their own strengths and weaknesses which is played-out on stage during the week. Each team member learns lessons about themselves and teamwork. The finished music video is later shown to Serenity and a live audience. Color the World, performed by Hope Weisheit and Andrew Tanner, became available on Spotify that very day. Don has been married to Shannon White since 1995, and they have two grown children, Jake and Abbey.