Don Tortellini Is Making Waves With Historic Dallas Films

Heritage is rich in Dallas, Texas with milestones that include the 1993 Dallas Cowboys Super Bowl win, or, Dallas being the largest city in the South with a segregated school system until 1961. Behind these significant events are the communities that continue to live beyond the spotlight, where Don “Tortellini” Thomas II is using his lens to capture history. Growing up as a musician and athlete, Don organically gained ambition to challenge himself and be a leader to those around him. One day he picked up a camera, and years later Don Tortellini became the first student in UNT history to have his work included in the Special Collections, the first Black photographer to exhibit at the esteemed Dallas Arboretum, and has received Special Recognition by the City of Dallas for his artistic contributions.

Over the weekend, local media were invited to meet the creative at the African American Museum of Dallas for the Black Narratives on Film private screening. The event featured two of Tortellini’s movies titled ‘God’s Sons’ and ‘Chaos on Commerce’, followed by Q&A.

God’s Sons

For this project Don Tortellini shares photography and film that honors a legacy deeply rooted in the heart of Dallas; the Red Bird Raiders. This youth football and cheer program has offered mentorship to boys and girls for 43 years and counting. In a post shared on social media, Don explained the reason behind the name of the series saying, “These young souls, often called everything but what they are—children of God—deserve their story to be seen and heard.” His artistic approach for capturing the organization in black and white further emphasizes their Light and the raw, emotional connection between players, coaches, and the neighborhood in which they live. The short film also offers a sense of nostalgia recovering old school memories of childhood and community.

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In 2023, the impact of the film granted Tortellini the opportunity to screen at the Dallas Cowboys Juneteenth Celebration to over 3,000 attendees. His photograph ‘God’s Sons’ is currently on view at the Carroll Harris Simms National Black Art Competition and Exhibition at the African American Museum of Dallas. According to the AAM, his work blends “history and activism, using visual storytelling to honor Black legacies and resilience.” The photograph will be on display through July 2025.

Chaos on Commerce

This motion picture is a time capsule that chronicles key moments from the past including the desegregation in DISD, the tragic murder of Santo Rodriguez, and the 1993 Dallas Cowboys Super Bowl parade where nearly 400,000 fans swarmed downtown Dallas to celebrate, until racial tensions rose and violence erupted.

Chaos on Commerce debuted in 2024 at Tortellini’s Alma mater, the University of North Texas, who has been a big supporter in his professional journey. The college also collaborated with him for “The Village” project, offering access to NBC5/KXAS Television News Archive. In addition to these accolades, Don was selected to showcase his work in the 2025 Denton Black Film Fesitval.

When asked what he wants people to walk away with after watching the film, Don said, “I want people to have Dallas pride. (Know) that there are stories in Dallas that need to be told and that I’m attempting to tell- as a storyteller and a filmmaker. I hope it inspires other filmmakers, photographers, or anybody in media that wants to tell stories in Dallas to know they don’t have to move away and pour into other cities. Pour into your own community like Oak Cliff, South Dallas, like the West or East- everybody. I just want people to be inspired to really create in Dallas more importantly.”

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