Paul Scanlan and his wife, Trish Striglos, in 2020 at Beyond Fest, a Los Angeles-based film festival where Legion M premiered “Archenemy.” The festival was held at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, so the movies were screened at drive-ins.
From the quiet streets of Orinda to the bright lights of Hollywood, Paul Scanlan is proof that groundbreaking ideas can emerge from the most unexpected places – a testament to the power of community, creativity and unwavering vision.
Paul Scanlan’s first movie memory was seeing “Jaws” as a child – while his family was vacationing on Cape Cod.
While it was beyond frightening watching a film about a shark terrorizing a beach – in the very location that inspired the movie’s infamous setting – it was also a moment of unexpected inspiration. His brother was having nightmares every night, but Scanlan had a different reaction.
“That was one of the first experiences I had of how impactful film can be as a medium,” he said.
“Jaws” was the spark of Scanlan’s lifelong passion for movies – a passion that truly caught fire with the creation of Legion M, a revolutionary film production company.
So, what is the founder of a movie studio doing in Orinda instead of Los Angeles?
“I like to be an insider with an outsider’s perspective,” said Scanlan, who has made Orinda his home since 2004.
Scanlan and his wife Trish chose Orinda deliberately – a decision that speaks to their values.
“We are both originally from the Midwest,” he said. “We wanted to raise our kids in a welcoming community with good schools and space for kids to play – yards, trees and all the things we appreciated from our own childhoods.” This same thoughtful approach would later inform his entrepreneurial vision, creating a company that values community and opportunity.
An Illinois native who studied radio, TV and film at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Scanlan took a rather circuitous path to Hollywood. After working in advertising in Chicago and California, he co-founded MobiTV, a streaming pioneer that grew to over 500 employees and nearly $100 million in revenue. During that journey, he began to see the potential of merging technology with entertainment, gaining insights that would prove crucial to his future ventures.
In 2016, Scanlan and his business partner Jeff Annison launched Legion M – tapping into the opportunity of the recently enacted JOBS (Jumpstart Our Business Startups) Act. This law eased many of the security regulations that previously prevented ordinary people from investing in startups, rather than solely venture capital firms and wealthy “angels.”
Their vision was groundbreaking: create an entertainment company owned by fans, not Wall Street. This wasn’t just a business strategy – it was a fundamental reimagining of how entertainment could be financed, created and consumed.
“Our long-term goal is to be owned by one million entertainment fans,” Scanlan said.
Currently, Legion M has over 150,000 community members, with more than 50,000 active investors. The company offers three unique ways to participate: join the community, invest in the company itself, or invest in specific film projects. Each option provides a different level of engagement, from casual fan to active investor.
All community members have the opportunity to provide input to Legion M regarding future projects. This means that members like Michael Adkins – who have little to no previous experience in entertainment – are still able to make their voices heard and contribute out-of-the-box insights.
“I like being involved,” said Adkins. “If you invest in Disney or other big companies, you don’t have any say in what they do. Legion M is different.”
In addition to a seat at the table, investors in Legion M are also betting on future payback with increased stock values. On top of all that, members who fund specific projects may receive backstage access to movie sets, invitations to exclusive events like premieres and other unique perks. (Adkins, for example, has visited a movie set and attended South by Southwest, where Legion M was premiering a film.)
The company’s most recent breakthrough came with “My Dead Friend Zoe,” a heartrending film about veterans, PTSD, families and friendships that demonstrates Legion M’s innovative approach.
Two-thirds of the movie’s financing came directly from their community of investors. Starring Sonequa Martin-Green, Natalie Morales, Ed Harris and Morgan Freeman, the film has been one of the best-reviewed movies of the year with a 95% score on Rotten Tomatoes. Legion M has already sold foreign rights for a seven-figure sum.
Looking ahead, Legion M is working on “Defiant” – a film about Robert Smalls, an enslaved man who became a Civil War hero. Smalls seized a Confederate warship, sailed it through enemy lines to freedom and later became the first Black congressman – a story Scanlan describes as “the most audacious heist in the history of mankind.” The project exemplifies the company’s commitment to telling meaningful, transformative stories.
Indeed, Legion M represents more than just a business venture for Scanlan – it’s a mission to democratize entertainment and give fans a genuine stake in the creative process.
“We’re not just making movies,” he says. “We’re creating something where our community can feel proud to be part of something meaningful.
“It doesn’t always happen, but when a movie has a purpose, that’s the sweet spot. Something people are excited about and feel good supporting, both financially and emotionally.”
“My Dead Friend Zoe” is available to rent or purchase on Amazon Prime, Apple TV and other streaming platforms. To learn more about Legion M, go to LegionM.com.