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MUSKOGEE, Okla. - We've covered so many aspects of entrepreneurship since we started this series, but one underlying theme has always been that all entrepreneurs give something back to the communities that helped them get their start. It's a common thread that seems to go a long way in making the entrepreneur and the communities they live in both thrive. What we didn't see coming was how movies, the film industry and local kids are all served by a couple in Muskogee who serve the kids first and their 'filmpreneur-ship' is the vehicle through which they do it. Usually, it's the other way around. We are talking about Oscar and ShIronbutterfly Ray, two of the most giving and hardworking people in these parts who want to show kids -all kids - that they have all they need to do something creative with their lives, no matter where they come from, how much money they have or who they know. It is the goal of the Rays to help all kids in Oklahoma develop their creativity and become productive members of society. They spend countless amounts of time working tirelessly to keep Oklahoma kids on the right path. At the end of every day, it's the kids they work for, not themselves, their films or award ceremonies, but for the future of Oklahoma. Before we delve too far into the work the Rays are doing with local children, we should tell you about the avenues through which they gather the needed funds for helping them. The biggest one, which is known all over the state of Oklahoma and much of the rest of the film world, is the Bare Bones Film Festival held every April (www.barebonesfilmfestivals.org). If you want to see and meet some of the best and brightest indie filmmakers around, then this is the place to go. They host it at the Roxy Theater and folks come from far and wide to learn, see and meet others who are in the industry. It has since been labeled "The Friendliest Film Festival in the World"; the Rays are two of the friendliest people in the world, so it goes without saying. The Rays have been in the film business full time since 1996 and have been hosting the Bare Bones Film Festival since 1999; it has morphed and grown into many other projects along the way, including a summer film series, the Trailblazer Film Festival in Duncan and special school career days where the Rays personally go into schools and show local children how they can spread their creative wings and fly. All of the money they earn from their festivals and endeavors goes back into their kid projects and the achievements of previous years are now being seen with the initial years' kids contacting the Rays to let them know they have become successes because of the start they got through the program. Many have gone on to film school or music school to pursue dreams they didn't even know they had until the Rays entered their lives. The passion to help kids oozes from Oscar and ShIronbutterfly; every penny they can gather from their projects goes to their passion for helping kids become active in the film industry. Whether it's shooting movies, acting, editing, writing scripts or making the music to accompany the films, there's something for every kid no matter what their skills or dreams. The Rays want to be there to help all kids in Oklahoma know the arts and develop a passion for them. With art, music and non-core curriculum drying up all over the country, it's incredible to find people who will not let it wither and die. If you feel the same way as ShIronbutterfly and Oscar, then please help them to keep the arts alive in Oklahoma by making a donation. All money goes to this cause and overhead is kept to a bare minimum. When we asked how they keep going, ShIronbutterfly laughed and replied, "Sometimes I think I need to be in a psych ward for why we keep going, but our work is also our play. We are not motivated by money, but it fits in with our mission. Do something well enough and it will pay later. Help others to promote their passion and it will pay you too." One of the biggest motivators for ShIronbutterfly is the return of her investment; many of the children return to ShIronbutterfly and Oscar as adults and tell them how their program changed their lives for the better, encouraging them to go on with their education and lives, then later returning to be mentors for the next generation of kids. "Seeing the positive effects of what we've done is what really keeps us going." Both ShIronbutterfly and Oscar have histories that encompass many things leading them to today. ShIronbutterfly worked in the financial services sector for 20 years, was a motivational speaker and has raised children of her own to give her all of the background necessary to be where she is today. Oscar has a long writing career and he loves to work with and inspire children and many tell us that he has a magical quality that inspires kids to want to do more and do well. Before you think that you could not be your own filmmaker, think again. All you need is a pen, paper and a camera. But what you need most of all is confidence and the Rays can help you dig down to find that confidence. It was there all along, you just may have misplaced it. If you are looking to quit your job tomorrow and make your film-making dreams a reality, don't tell your boss off just yet. If you have a bit of security, use it to keep your lights on and bills paid and start small at first. Make contacts with people locally who work in the Oklahoma film industry to help you get started. By the way, you will need to be there for your mentors as well; it cannot be all one-sided. See if you have a knack for one aspect of the industry over another and learn all you can. If you want to work with children making a difference in their lives, you might want to contact a local school and see if they could use someone with your skills for a mentoring program. Even if one says no, another may say yes, so don't give up after the first phone call. The need for donations for kids is as big as it ever was. If you would like to donate, they could use your support and encourage involvement in the program: Find out how you can be involved in the success by visiting www.Barebonesfilmfestivals.org. There are links to Facebook and PayPal and you can e-mail the Rays directly at barebonesfilmfestivals@gmail.com. We loved what the Rays had to say about the three things they would tell anyone starting out in the film industry, we chose to leave it as-is. Their suggestions get to the heart of the matter with few words:Another person who tirelessly gives to the African American community in the Muskogee area is Cassandra Gaines. She currently manages the Civic Center, but this is a woman who rose to where she is through passion and perseverance, making Muskogee a great place to visit for entertainment as well as offering valuable lessons in the history of the area as a whole. Cassandra started volunteering at the Roxy Theater (coincidentally where the Bare Bones Film Festival is held each year), moved into a receptionist position and saw that there were no cultural events for the African American community. She made a proposal for Governor Frank Keeting and he liked what she did. He met with Oklahoma reps and got her a $50,000 grant over 10 years to make it happen. Somehow Cassandra made the paltry sum of money go a long way to create many events that are still happening today. The city hired Cassandra to be the fulltime Director of the Multicultural Division of the Roxy Theater and she was approached in 2008 to take over the directorship of the Muskogee Civic Center where she has carved a niche of tours of historical black towns and too many food, entertainment and educational events to list here, but needless to say, the list is a long one. Her work has garnered the attention of the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times. She now has events booked for the entire month of February and March through May is quickly filling in. Gaines has been approached to write about restaurants owned by Jay-Z and Doug-E Fresh and she also mentors women abroad who are entrepreneurs as well as working a program that provides mammograms for women no matter their ability to pay. As a breast cancer survivor, Cassandra cares for other women who need medical help and compassion. When we asked Ms. Gaines to tell us how she does what she does and how she keeps going, she says, "It's not a job but a passion. She utilizes her contacts all over the U.S. and in England to make things happen but she is a very laid-back person who does not let every little thing get to her. It's all about balance. If you would like to know more about Cassandra Gaines' work and achievements, you can Google her name on the Web or find out more about events coming up at the Muskogee Civic Center by logging on to www.cityofmuskogee.com or by visiting their Facebook page.