Legion M Entertainment

Legion M Entertainment operates as a fan-owned entertainment company, a model facilitated by the Jumpstart Our Business Startups (JOBS) Act. The company was founded in March 2016 by Paul Scanlan and Jeff Annison. The founders, both Emmy-winning entrepreneurs, previously co-founded MobiTV, a company that pioneered streaming television to mobile devices. Their background in digital media innovation informed their vision to disrupt the traditional Hollywood studio system by empowering fans.

The company's business model is centered on equity crowdfunding, allowing fans to become shareholders by investing in the company. This structure provides a built-in audience that is financially and emotionally invested in the success of the projects. Legion M's long-term goal is to unite one million fan shareholders, leveraging their collective power to influence which projects get made and to create a grassroots marketing force for releases. Revenue is generated through a diversified slate of activities, including earning producer fees, film distribution, investments in third-party projects, merchandising, live events, and marketing partnerships. The company partners with creators, from independent filmmakers to major studios, to develop, finance, produce, and monetize content across film, television, and virtual reality.

Legion M's portfolio includes a variety of projects. Initially, the company made smaller investments in films like "Colossal" and "Mandy" to gain a foothold in the industry. It has since progressed to financing, producing, and distributing its own films, such as the documentary "William Shatner: You Can Call Me Bill" and the dark comedy "My Dead Friend Zoe," starring Ed Harris and Morgan Freeman. A key aspect of their model is allowing fans to invest directly in specific film projects, with those investors receiving returns before the company. This fan-centric approach extends to giving the community a voice in creative decisions through platforms like their "Film Scout" app. The company has successfully raised over $25 million from more than 58,000 investors through multiple funding rounds.

Keywords: fan-owned entertainment, equity crowdfunding, film financing, movie production, independent film, community-driven content, entertainment investing, JOBS Act startup, film distribution, television production, virtual reality content, Paul Scanlan, Jeff Annison, MobiTV, My Dead Friend Zoe, William Shatner documentary, entertainment business model, fan engagement, movie investment, Hollywood disruption, content creation, media finance, grassroots marketing, creative collaboration