Established in May of 2007, Legion Media was greater Pittsburgh's first fully HD production company. With two Sony CineAlta F900R camera packages, as well as a state-of-the-art editing system, Legion continues to offer the most advanced technology in the region to service the video production needs of local businesses.
Founded by industry veterans James Stranahan and Brian Cohen, Legion Media has secured clients based on their credibility and knowledge of the video production business. Both partners have spent years in the video industry, bringing a wide range of skills and a strong vision to the company while each specializing in different aspects of the business.
With the growth of HD technology in the consumer market, Legion Media is poised to be at the forefront of local High Definition production while offering economical videography solutions to its clients.
Brian Cohen
Growing up in Hamilton, Ohio, Cohen always maintained an interest in film and video production. Inspired by his favorite movies, he endeavored at an early age to become a producer, and took advantage of opportunities in the greater Cincinnati area to achieve his goal. For his college education, Cohen elected to attend the University of Miami's noteworthy film program due to its freedom in class selection and course focus.
Upon graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Motion Pictures and Economics, Cohen moved to the center of the film industry, Los Angeles. After assisting producer Mario Kassar through production, post-production, marketing and release of "Terminator 3", Cohen went to work for independent film's most legendary producer, Roger Corman. As the Coordinator of Worldwide Distribution for Corman's company Concorde-New Horizons, Brian was responsible for sales and delivery of motion picture rights and elements to distributors all over the world, and represented the company at the Cannes Marche du Film and the American Film Market. Following this, Brian co-produced the independent feature film "Immortally Yours" starring noteworthy actors such as Martin Kove, Costas Mandylor and Phil Fondacaro.
After gaining this valuable experience, Cohen has decided to relocate and venture into business with his long-time friend James Stranahan due to Stranahan's experience with digital media and his strong foothold in Pittsburgh's commercial industry. The creation of Legion Media is the realization of a dream Cohen has had since his youth.
James Stranahan
After graduating from the highly selective film production program at the University of Miami, James Stranahan has directed numerous commercials, worked on film productions and also created music videos in the California, Pennsylvania and Ohio media markets. He is also an award-winning filmmaker, his personal work in the field of stop-motion animation having been screened and awarded both nationally and internationally in festivals such as the Berkeley Film and Video Festival and the Linz Electronic Arts Festival in Linz, Austria.
Stranahan also holds a Master of Fine Arts in Filmmaking from the San Francisco Art Institute, one of the leading visual-based media schools in the country. An avid photographer and cinematographer, he is never too far away from a camera or editing booth.
Until recently, Stranahan was in the employ of John Pytka of Pytka Productions in Pittsburgh and Los Angeles, working as a 1st Asst. Director and Director of commercials. Mr. Pytka is one of the leading commercial directors in the country after working in the film and commercial industry with his brother Joe for over forty years. Stranahan's training at Pytka Productions included technology components, such as cameras, lighting and editing, scheduling shoots for numerous clients, and the advertising business in general.
Stranahan's love of visual narrative and digital technology is rivaled only by his concern to create the very best commercials that the media industry can offer.