Vicksburg is home to many creative personalities and among them is filmmaker Mike Gillis. The owner of Raintree Pictures is currently filming his latest production, “When I Loved You.”

Gillis said his interest in filmmaking goes back to his days at Warren Central High School when he was a member of the dancing/singing group, Total Sound.

Gillis, who also wrote the screenplay, said all of his films are based on real life situations and added that all of his films have a Christian message with the objective to spread God’s message.

“If I can save one person I will feel complete,” Gillis said.

Gillis’ last film, “Around The Next Corner” was a finalist for best drama short at the Tupelo Film Festival.

Filming for “When I Loved You” is being shot at various locations in and around Warren County.

More positives reported in Vicksburg this week:

4 Beechwood Elementary School students participated in the school’s Minute To Win It, Friday. The game-filled day was in conjunction with PBIS — Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports, which focuses on rewarding good behavior. More than 500 Students who had demonstrated good behavior and who had not been written up for nine weeks were allowed to participate. Beechwood implemented PBIS in 2012, and the school in now a model site, principal Tamikia Billings said, adding the program works.

“We have seen decreases in student referrals, increases in academic achievements, increases in building effective relationships, and it has created a positive and conducive climate and culture for teaching and learning,” Billings said.

4 The outcome for many of the animals at the Vicksburg Animal Shelter is improving thanks to the group, Passionate For Rescues. In addition to promoting the available animals heavily on their Facebook page, volunteers go to the shelter to walk the dogs and help socialize them and the cats and kittens. Mayor George Flaggs Jr. commended Passionate For Rescues, saying without their volunteer help, improvements made at the shelter could not have been afforded.

“I have been quite pleased with their manpower. We are now on the right track for better service as a shelter and with rescue,” Flaggs said. “This has been good for the community and the animals, and that is what community is all about.”