MYAKKA CITY, Fla. — Known for its beautiful beaches, love for the arts, and cultural attractions, the Suncoast area of Florida, which includes St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Largo, Dunedin, Tarpon Springs, Tampa, Brandon, Ruskin, Sarasota, and Bradenton, is increasingly gaining attention on the silver screen.
However, filming in Florida comes at a higher cost compared to other states with more tax incentives.
One of the most recent movies filmed in the area is a Western called "Florida Wild," starring Academy Award-winning actors Lee Majors and Mira Sorvino. Filming was taking place earlier this year during the spring on a 10,000-acre ranch located about 20 miles outside of Sarasota in Myakka City.
The movie's executive producer, Mark Pentecost, owner of the wellness company "It Works," also owns the ranch. The movie, set in the 1880s, pays homage to Florida's wilderness and cowboy culture.
Pentecost's goal is to show what ranching was like in Florida in the 19th century and to inspire young people to consider a career in the movie industry.
"Most people don't know this history," Pentecost said. "We wanted to bring attention to Florida. You go to Georgia, and you get 30% incentives. So they said, 'Mark, it's not smart money here,' but I want to do it in Florida and I want to do it on our property."
Pentecost teamed up with longtime movie director and executive producer Rick Eldridge, making it a point to hire many locals for the project.
"Over 250 people every day on set and over 100 locals," Pentecost notes.
The locals come here to work and it's a fun experience," Eldridge said. "It's something you don't get to do every day, but, it's the background of the community, they just have to be themselves and that's all they have to do."
The involvement of local residents has been significant. Ernest Eugene Helfrick, a Sarasota local, shared his experience:
"The locals can work. We came on set and showed them what we could do, and they said we need more of it." Helfrick said.
When we spoke to Helfrick, he said he was originally scheduled to work for 10 days which turned into several months. He also doubled as an extra.
Another resident, Kole Clark, doubled as an extra alongside his friends and family.
"They reached out to me because they needed some chainsaw work," Clark said. "I came, cut some trees down, and then they needed a carpenter. So, I plugged in there, and used my tractor. My mom is working on set too."
Actress Tommi Rose emphasized the authenticity that local involvement brings:
"Oh, there's real cowboys on set and everything," Rose said. "It feels western, but also Florida at the same time. It's really lovely."
Pentecost believes that Florida's diverse landscape, from its beaches to rural areas, offers filmmakers a wide range of scenes without having to travel far. He is advocating for more tax incentives to make Florida a more attractive place for film production.
"The thing that's really going to help this market grow with film is for some people to get behind it and to promote indigenous filmmaking and filmmakers," Eldridge said.
With the release of "Florida Wild" set for some time in 2025, the team hopes it has the potential to become a series. Sarasota is no stranger to production companies, and with more support, Pentecost and Eldridge hope it could become a major hub for film production.
As the Sarasota area continues to attract more film projects, the hope is that with the right financial support and community involvement, it can establish itself as a key player in the film industry.
"The movie is about hope. And at the end, if you're not happy where you're at today, you get to do something about it," Pentecost said.