Legion Media, Ltd., Pittsburgh’s first fully High Definition production company, opened in May at 853 Phineas St. on the Northside.
Founded by film industry veterans James Stranahan and Brian Cohen, Legion Media specializes in commercial, industrial and promotional videos. Located in a 1,600 square-foot space in historic
Deutschtown, Legion boasts the tri-state region’s most advanced video production equipment.
With the rise of HD technology, Stranahan and Cohen feel that Pittsburgh is the ideal place for Legion. “I see the future of this city in robotics, biotech and what we do. Pittsburgh has the potential to be a bridge between New York and
Chicago, and a gateway to the South. I’ve always loved shooting here,” says Stranahan, who hopes to draw clients from Detroit, Cleveland and Baltimore.
Legion is completing commercials for an area law firm, and has met with
Ten United and State Farm Insurance. “We look forward to working with the casinos. If a business has the money, they look to L.A., but we can do just as good of a job here. We have the number one technology in the world at prices businesses and communities can afford,” adds Stranahan, who says Pittsburgh offers unique and spacious buildings for productions.
In Los Angeles, Cohen assisted producer Mario Kassar on “Terminator 3,” and worked for legendary independent producer Roger Corman. Stranahan’s stop-motion animations have been screened at the
Berkeley Film and Video Festival and
Linz Electronic Arts Festival. He previously worked as 1st Assistant Director for Jon Pytka, a leading commercial director whose clients include Budweiser and IBM. In collaboration with Pittsburgh-based
Hifade, Legion recently produced a video for new band,
The 9th Ward.
Writer:
Jennifer BaronSources: James Stranahan and Brian Cohen, Legion Media
Image courtesy of Legion Media