MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — One Myakka City rancher is asking why more movies aren't filmed in Florida.

The state was at the top of the list for film locations, but since Florida no longer gives incentives, there have been fewer movies filmed in the Sunshine State.

According to Film Florida, the film industry was at one time wildly successful in Florida — in the early 2000s, the state was the No. 3 production destination behind California and New York — but the decision to end film incentives in 2016 has led moviemakers to leave the state.

The group estimates that due to the lack of incentives in the last 10 years, Florida has lost more than 100 major film and television projects that would have pumped an estimated $2 billion into the state economy.

Film Florida estimated that those productions would have resulted in 150,000 cast and crew jobs in Florida and 300,000 room nights in the state's hotels and short-term rentals.

Myakka City rancher, and now film producer, Mark Pentecost says he is in love with what Florida has to offer and would like to see the filming situation in the state change.

He moved to Myakka City in 2011 from Michigan to start his own ranch, and since his initial purchase, his property has grown from 300 acres to 10,000 acres.

“We got 1,200 beef cows and probably 7 or 800 calves on the ground right now," he said. "We feed so many of America, and people don’t realize that we do that in Florida."

He’s wanted to be a cowboy for years, not just in real life but also on the big screen.

“When I was a little kid, we would go to my grandpa’s on Saturdays and watch westerns," Pentecost said. "I’m doing this in his honor. Only in America, I believe if you have a big dream, you can go after it."

To do that, he brought the big screen to his ranch, and is producing a western movie set in the 1880s called “Florida Wild." Pentecost said he has invested more than $10 million to film the movie on his property.

“It was my dream to do this movie here on our ranch," he said. "What I didn’t realize is that Florida has one of three states with zero incentives — no incentives to do movies here. We got 250 people on set every day and 100 people locally working on set. We are putting money back into the economy."

He said that if he had shot the movie in Georgia, the production would have received 30% back in incentives — the equivalent of a $3 million rebate. But he said he was determined to film at his home despite the cost.

“It’s a pricey endeavor, but it makes me laugh." Pentecost said. "I’m pioneering like they did in the old days to try to get more movies brought back to Florida. So hopefully."

Pentecost said he also hired local residents to replicate a real western town and build around 10 structures like a jail, a saloon and stores. He said his goal is to show what ranching was like in Florida in the 19th Century.

“This is real Florida, back after the Civil War," he said. "So many people moved to Florida and started new lives, and I want to show that. That’s where legacy comes from, and ranches. If we don’t bring attention to that and our ranches, we will close that like our citrus."

Pentecost said his goal is to show people a different side of Florida.

“Westerns really originated here," he said. "The Spanish brought horses and cattle here first. We are really trying to bring that to life and not let that be forgotten in a day of building so many developments, condos, and golf courses. We want them to remember what Florida was really about."

Pentecost said he plans to host field trips to his ranch so he can show students what a movie set looks like, and to inspire young minds to think about going into the movie industry.

Pentecost said he expects “Florida Wild" to be in theaters by 2025.