We were lucky to catch up with Clinton Tate Jr recently and have shared our conversation below.
Clinton, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you walk us through some of the key steps that allowed you move beyond an idea and actually launch?
My journey into filmmaking started in an unexpected way. I was originally a rapper and had a solid run performing and recording music from my teenage years into adulthood. But I struggled to figure out how to properly distribute and promote my music the way I envisioned, so eventually I stepped away from it.
Around that time, life shifted. I became a family man, met my wife, and worked a full-time job for about eight to nine years. During those years I also stepped into boxing as an amateur after my father passed away. Boxing became a way for me to build strength and prove to myself that I could be the man my family needed to protect and lead.
After boxing, I found myself creatively lost for a while. I wasn’t sure what direction my life was going to take.
Everything changed when I filmed one of my last rap videos. My little brother had a GoPro, and we used it to shoot a video for my song called “Say a Prayer.” It was filmed outside while it was snowing in black and white, and without even realizing it at the time, I had created something cinematic. Looking back now, that moment symbolized something bigger it was the end of my rap journey and the birth of my camera journey.
After seeing what we created, I bought my own GoPro and started filming music videos for my friend Voice of Baltimore for $40. We worked constantly, almost every day, and I quickly fell in love with creating through the lens.
Soon after, I invested in my first real camera, a Panasonic Lumix. That was a big step for me financially, but it was the moment I truly committed to learning the craft and building something real. As people started noticing my dedication and work ethic, more opportunities began to come my way.
One of my clients believed in me so much that he helped me invest in my next major camera, the Sony FX30. That pushed me further into the world of cinematic photography and filmmaking.
One of the biggest turning points in my journey came when I lost the stability of the job I had worked for nearly nine years. Being a family man, that job had been the foundation for how I provided for my household. When that chapter ended, it forced me to truly bet on myself.
Instead of giving up, I took the severance pay from that job and invested it directly into my filmmaking business. I upgraded equipment, doubled down on my craft, and fully committed to building my brand as a creator.
Since then, my career has continued to grow. I’ve directed music videos, worked with artists across Baltimore, created independent films, and built my brand through Mauvlous Filmz. I’ve also been nominated for Videographer of the Year at the Baltimore Crown Awards in 2023, 2024, and 2025 with my very first nomination coming within my first year of fully dedicating myself to the craft.
What started with a GoPro and a $40 music video has grown into a filmmaking career, a creative platform called Eternal Stage, and a mission to tell powerful stories through film. My journey is still unfolding, but every step has been about believing in my vision and continuing to build something meaningful for my community and beyond.
Clinton, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
My name is Clinton Tate Jr., also known as Mauv, and I’m the founder of Mauvlous Filmz, a creative filmmaking and videography brand based in Baltimore. I specialize in cinematic videography, music videos, short films, and visual storytelling that helps artists, brands, and businesses bring their ideas to life on screen.
My journey into filmmaking came from an unexpected place. I originally started as a rapper and creative artist. Music was my first passion, but I eventually realized I struggled with the business side of getting my music out the way I envisioned. That led me down a different creative path.
One day I filmed one of my last rap videos using a GoPro for a song called “Say a Prayer.” It was shot outside while it was snowing and ended up looking very cinematic, even though I didn’t know much about cameras at the time. That moment sparked something in me. I realized storytelling through visuals might be my real calling.
I bought my own GoPro and started filming music videos for my friend Voice of Baltimore for about $40. What started as small practice projects quickly became a passion. I invested in my first real camera, a Panasonic Lumix, and began dedicating myself to learning the craft.
Over time people in my city started noticing my work ethic and creative vision. As my work improved, opportunities began to grow. One of my clients even believed in me enough to help invest in my next major camera, the Sony FX30, which allowed me to take my cinematography to a much higher level.
A major turning point in my journey came when I lost the stability of the job I had worked for nearly nine years. Instead of giving up, I used the severance pay from that job to invest directly into my filmmaking business. That decision forced me to bet on myself and fully commit to building my brand and career.
Since then I’ve worked with many artists and creatives across Baltimore, directed music videos, produced independent films, and continued growing my platform. I’ve also been nominated for Videographer of the Year at the Baltimore Crown Awards in 2023, 2024, and 2025, which has been a huge honor and motivation to keep pushing forward.
Beyond client work, I also created Eternal Stage, a performance platform designed to give artists in my city a place to showcase their talent and express themselves creatively.
What sets me apart is the level of passion and authenticity I bring into every project. I’m not just filming videos I’m telling stories. My background as an artist allows me to understand the vision of the people I work with and translate that vision into powerful visuals.
What I’m most proud of is how far the journey has come in a short time. In just a few years I’ve built a respected brand, created meaningful work in my community, and developed projects like Eternal Stage and my upcoming film projects that aim to inspire and uplift people.
For me, filmmaking is more than a business. It’s a way to document life, empower artists, and create stories that people can feel and connect with.
And this is only the beginning.
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
Yes, there is definitely a mission driving my creative journey. For me, filmmaking is about more than just capturing footage it’s about telling real stories, inspiring people, and creating platforms that allow others to be seen and heard.
A big part of my mission is to show people what’s possible when you believe in yourself and take a chance on your vision. My journey wasn’t traditional. I started with a GoPro filming $40 music videos, and over time I built my brand Mauvlous Filmz through dedication, learning, and investing in myself even when things were uncertain. That experience taught me that creativity can change your life if you stay committed to it.
Another important part of my mission is giving artists and creatives opportunities. That’s why I created Eternal Stage, a platform designed to showcase talent in my city and give artists a place to express themselves. I believe a lot of talented people just need a stage and someone who believes in their vision.
Long-term, my goal is to continue growing as a filmmaker while creating meaningful projects from music videos to films and visual storytelling that inspire people and document real culture. I want my work to show that creativity, perseverance, and faith in your vision can open doors that once seemed impossible.
At the end of the day, my mission is simple: use storytelling and film to inspire others, uplift my community, and prove that big dreams can come from small beginnings.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
One story that really illustrates my resilience is the period of time when several major challenges in my life happened back-to-back.
Before I ever fully stepped into my filmmaking journey, I went through one of the hardest chapters of my life. I lost both of my fathers within about a year of each other. First, my biological father passed away from health complications. Not long after that, I lost my stepfather the man who had really helped raise me and played a major role in my life. Losing both of them so close together was devastating and forced me to grow up mentally and emotionally in ways I wasn’t prepared for.
Shortly after that period, I focused on stability and began working a job at Textron Systems, where I stayed for nearly nine years. I gave that company my full effort training people, solving problems, and doing everything I could to be valuable to the team. When that chapter ended and I was laid off, it was a difficult moment because I had invested so much of myself there. However, the company recognized the work I had put in and provided me with a severance package.
Instead of letting that moment break me, I chose to bet on myself. I took that severance pay and invested it into my filmmaking career upgrading equipment and fully committing to building my creative brand.
At the same time, I was also fighting a long and emotional custody battle to bring my son home. That process required patience, strength, and faith, but eventually I was able to gain custody and have him living with me. That victory meant more to me than anything professionally because it reminded me what truly matters in life.
Throughout my creative journey there have also been moments where I felt like the “black sheep” even being nominated for Videographer of the Year at the Baltimore Crown Awards in 2023, 2024, and 2025 without winning. But instead of letting that discourage me, it motivated me to keep improving my craft and continue building something meaningful.
All of these experiences taught me that resilience isn’t about avoiding hardship it’s about continuing to move forward through it. Losing my fathers, losing my job, fighting for my son, and building my career at the same time forced me to become stronger and more focused on my purpose.
Today, everything I create through Mauvlous Filmz is driven by that same mindset: keep building, keep believing, and keep turning life’s hardest moments into fuel for something greater.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://MauvlousFilmz.Com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mauvlousfilmz?igsh=NjE0OWE0NzkzdTU0&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1AocdbSrTR/?mibextid=wwXIfr
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clinton-tate-jr-45a725341?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@officialmauvlousfilmz?si=FrtNreHpiiwHbs0B
Image Credits
MauvlousFilmz