🎬 From St. Louis to Six Cities: How Dr. Marlon Whitfield is Empowering Youth Through Film

Partnerships, risk-taking, and helping youth see what’s possible is what helps Marlon turn vision into high-impact momentum.

Dr. Marlon Whitfield (far left) and Carl Anthony Payne II — yes, Cole from Martin! — joined David Tucker Jr. (right) to inspire the next generation at the St. Louis 'On The Set' Summer Film Camp.

Dr. Marlon Whitfield is a proud dad and dynamic force in the St. Louis community and beyond. As Founder and Executive Director of  The Whitfield Foundation for Success, and Founder and Managing Partner of Hawk Time, LLC—a St. Louis-based marketing and consulting firm—he has built a career that reaches millions, including managing Grammy-winning artist Murphy Lee. Having witnessed his impact in St. Louis firsthand, I recently spoke with Marlon to hear about the work he’s pursuing now and to learn his key insights on turning ambitious visions into meaningful results.

Malena: Marlon, it’s so great to connect! I know your schedule is packed, but what’s the project or passion you most want people to hear about right now?

Marlon: Thank you Malena! I’m really excited about our growing film camp for youth called on On The Set Summer Film Camp. We were fortunate to expand it to six cities—St. Louis, Birmingham, Nashville, Houston, Atlanta, and New Orleans. The camp runs every summer and in the Fall through November; we’re hosting six youth movie premieres and showcasing the campers’ unique stories and films. We’re also developing an after-school program tied to the camp.

Malena: Wow, what an incredible evolution. Tell us more.

Marlon: The camp teaches all aspects of filmmaking—acting, directing, cinematography – to youth ages 10 – 18. As a part of our mission, our focus is on underserved communities, many of which are in the top 10 most dangerous cities in the U.S., reaching over 180 kids this year.

Malena: That’s brilliant and so needed!

Marlon: Indeed. The film camp is a two-week, Monday – to – Friday camp that costs $200 per child. We rent out movie theaters and bring in Hollywood professionals to mentor all of the participants. Families can register at OnTheSetCamp.com or via social media. Helping grow this camp is directly tied to my consulting work with organizations such as the Urban League of St. Louis where I teach at-risk youth life skills. The goal behind everything I do is to build confidence in kids—showing them that they can be whoever they want if they commit to it.

Marlon teamed up with actress Elise Neal  to inspire families to enroll in the camp, where Neal offered mentorship and creative collaboration to young, aspiring film stars.

Malena: So what drew you to film in particular?

Marlon: In filmmaking, it’s immediate—you can step into any role, be a judge, a lawyer, a director, and really tap into that energy. It gives youth the confidence to run the scene: “What does this scene look like? How would you shoot it? What are the characters wearing? How tall are they?” You see kids who are shy or quiet suddenly take on leadership roles, directing or handling the camera with a new attitude. It’s an incredible transformation to watch.

Malena: I can imagine! Marlon, I’ve always seen you as a community-first leader, and your impact on uplifting youth is incredible. What’s been the biggest key to growing the camp from one city to six in just seven years?

Marlon: Partnerships are absolutely key. Sharing your energy and mindset with like-minded individuals. You don’t have to do everything yourself. 

The second key is understanding risk and failure. To be successful, you have to take risks, and failure is part of the path to success. Going through failure shapes your perspective and is needed along the journey to success.

Malena: That makes sense! So for a creative visionary just starting out, where do you recommend they begin? Should they focus on building partnerships right away, or wait until later in the process?

Marlon: Definitely begin building partnership right away. Whenever we enter a city, we look for strategic partners. In Houston, for example, we reached out to the Houston Astros Major League Baseball team. I researched what programs they’ve supported in the past and pitched an idea in line with their goals: a baseball-themed film camp featuring inner-city kids aspiring to the major leagues. They said, “This is a no-brainer.” Our partnership provided us the opportunity to hold camp at the stadium, with the Houston Astros providing meals, clean facilities, and tours. They even gave the campers replica World Series rings at the movie premiere.

Me: A-mazing! I’m sure the campers loved that!

Marlon: Yes, they did! The key is aligning your organization with your strategic partner’s initiatives and priorities. Doing a little research—looking at their giving patterns over the last five years—is all it takes to create alignment and make it a win-win for all partners involved. 

Me: Understood. Can you tell me more about ways you engage and support youth in St. Louis?

Marlon: Absolutely. In St. Louis, I also work with at-risk youth through the Urban League, teaching life skills and financial literacy. The key to being successful is seeing someone who’s already doing it. So when we teach financial literacy to at-risk youth, I bring in someone from the field—someone in global business—and show them what’s possible. Spending a day with someone you aspire to be lights a fire.

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About Malena: Malena Amusa is the CEO and Founder of Artsy-Preneur.com, a business and marketing incubator helping your big ideas achieve maximum impact through coaching, workshops, and powerful learning experiences. A pro journalist, educator, comms strategist, serial entrepreneur, and former nationally-touring dancer, Malena has reached millions globally, helping small and mega firms transform their marketing, engagement strategy, and messaging to advance new market share, embolden brand leadership, and fuel sales and growth. Malena is based in St. Louis, Mo., serving the world.