Legion M and Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment Announce Strategic Partnership to Bring Community Driven Content to Television Fans
LOS ANGELES / NEW YORK (December 12, 2018) – Legion M and Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment, Inc. (“CSS Entertainment”) today announced a strategic partnership to jointly source, develop and produce community driven original content that not only embraces entertainment fans but also gives them a chance to potentially invest and receive equity in the projects. The deal goes into effect immediately and gives CSS Entertainment exclusive rights to many series already in the works at Legion M and will also see the companies working together on select new movies being distributed by CSS Entertainment’s Screen Media division.
Legion M, the world's first FAN-OWNED entertainment company, is revolutionizing the way entertainment is made in Hollywood by uniting a growing fan community through investment in and producing content.
CSS Entertainment is a growing media company focused on building its own growing network of VOD channels. The company also produces and distributes positive and entertaining video content across major broadcast and streaming platforms worldwide. CSS Entertainment has several series in production, including season two of “Vacation Rental Potential,” season four of “Chicken Soup for the Soul’s Hidden Heroes,” and season one of “Going From Broke.” In addition, “Chicken Soup for the Soul’s Being Dad” is currently available on Netflix.
The first crowd-centric TV projects CSS Entertainment and Legion M will develop together include:
“POSITV” – A weekly collection of inspirational, uplifting and positive news, stories and real life moments that are submitted by individuals from around the world, curated by the Legion M community.
“Comedy Royale” – A next generation sketch comedy show where online viewers play the role of a production executive as up-and-coming creators, actors, comics and comedy troupes compete for cash, prizes and the opportunity to break into the industry.
“Up$ide” – At-home viewers become venture capitalists as entrepreneurs pitch their business ideas on live television. The audience selects which companies they’ll invest in, receiving equity in return.
“New York Rock Exchange” – Solo acts and bands perform on a weekly TV series that puts the audience in a record label’s executive seat. Participants compete for financial backing to fulfill their rock star dreams while viewers invest in their favorite act and receive equity in the winner’s first studio album and/or tour.
“Legion M” – Creators, directors and dreamers pitch their TV or film concepts to an TV audience who “green light” their favorite projects by investing in their productions. The newly minted fan-producers receive equity once a project reaches its minimum funding goals.
Additionally, Legion M and CSS Entertainment will actively explore combining their unique strengths in the film industry to team up behind multiple film projects via CSS Entertainment’s Screen Media division. Screen Media is a leading independent movie distributor with a library encompassing thousands of hours of programming. Recent Screen Media releases include the feel good holiday event ELLIOT: THE LITTLEST REINDEER (voices of Josh Hutcherson, Samantha Bee, Martin Short), THE MERCY (Colin Firth, Rachel Weisz), and BEL CANTO (Julianne Moore, Ken Watanabi) based on the New York Times bestseller. Legion M has invested in a diverse slate of original film projects in various stages of development, including the instant cult classic hit MANDY (Nicolas Cage), COLOSSAL (Anne Hathaway, Jason Sudeikis), and Dean Devlin’s independently produced and distributed psychological thriller BAD SAMARITAN (David Tennant).
An early pioneer of crowdsourcing content, CSS Entertainment understands the power of Legion M’s Fan-Owned business model and how the community can inspire, guide and contribute to high-quality, entertaining content,” said Paul Scanlan, cofounder and CEO of Legion M. “We’re looking forward to offering fans and viewers the opportunity to not only participate in the content they are watching, but invest and own a piece of it as well.”
“Partnering with CSS Entertainment comes at an exciting time for Legion M. Our fourth round of equity crowdfunding is currently open, and we’re building on the momentum of two recent projects that have received unbelievable attention: MANDY, which had a very successful theatrical release this fall, and our recently announced comic book and feature film project GIRL WITH NO NAME” said Jeff Annison, cofounder and president of Legion M. “We’re thrilled to be working with CSS Entertainment, and adding uplifting, community-driven series to our growing slate of projects.”
“We are excited to be working with an innovator like Legion M,” said Elana Sofko, COO of CSS Entertainment. “It’s a great time to take advantage of the changes in the entertainment industry and foster direct relationships with fans in an engaging way. We look forward to working with Legion M on Screen Media theatrical releases as well as developing and delivering great television series.”
To learn more about Legion M, its development slate and how to join the Legion, please visit www.legionm.com. More information about Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment can be found at www.cssentertainment.com.