Don Napoleon. Emmy Award-winning video journalist, photographer, teacher, and mentor are all used to describe this creative visionary. But, if you ask Don to describe himself his first word is usually “Student”. Since first picking up a camera in his early teens Don Napoleon has been a consummate student of the crafts of photography and video, translating his passion into a career of telling the story of life through pictures.
Earning his BA in Psychology with a Minor in English, Communications from Virginia State University, Don quickly jumped into his chosen profession with positions in Broadcast and Cable Television for a variety of organizations including NBC and the Washington DC Mayor’s office. By 2004, Don partnered with Gearshift TV to create cutting-edge photographic and video art, quickly distinguishing the company from its peers. The Napoleon Complex project, Don’s documentary film house, is a powerful extension of his craft that enables Don to passionately convey the human experience in real environments. Gaining attention and accolades from Capitol Hill, TV Commercials, and Documentaries with NFL players and organizations, Don’s clients include the National Football Leagues’ Players Association, Dream Works Pictures, Qatar Ministry of Economy & Finance, BBC, NBC, Notable News Agencies, DC Government, political hearings with Senators and Congressman on Capitol Hill just to name a few. Don has covered directed documentary works with the dedication of the monument to the Native American Museum Woman’s Day March, Several Super Bowl events coverage for the NFLPA, the National Action Network with Al Sharpton at the March on Washington’s 50th-year Commemoration, the Tribute to Nelson Mandela, NAACP Awards, TV One’s Christmas show and documentary coverage for the Inaugural Women’s Day March, HBCU Road Trip an episode of the Black News Network and more recently a tribute dedication of a new memorial at the Native American Museum. Don is an experienced location scout in the Washington, DC area coordinating projects for USAA, Honor Flight Veterans, and Documentaries that create change, Don’s passion for telling stories that matter is unmatched.
With each professional success and honor Don, a proud member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc., has never forgotten to pass on what he’s learned to the next generation. Exposure, the nonprofit organization Don founded in 2003, offers in-depth, real-world education to college students interested in the Multi-Media and Arts Industries. Focusing special attention on students of HBCUs, the program utilizes hands-on projects, event production opportunities, introductions to industry insiders, and tours to world-class television studios, stages, and film set to create a rich and immersive experience that adds meaning to the classroom education. This 15-plus years labor of love now boasts more than 1000 students (85% of whom earn internships) a college professor and a Cannes Film Festival winner.
Don Napoleon’s learning is ongoing. With every new assignment, honor, exposure project and challenge his art gets better and is conveyed with the boldness and fearlessness required of a true visionary. Don embraces his lifelong education with the goal of passing on this fresh perspective and constant quest for growth to the next generation because one thing Don knows for sure is that there is no other way to truly and effectively tell a story.
