Most people in the Pittsburgh area know the Westinghouse name.

But few know the man behind it -- George Westinghouse.

Mark Bussler of Oakmont is about to change that.

His latest film, "Westinghouse," explores the life of the inventor/industrialist, including his companies, legacy, personality and achievements. "Westinghouse" was filmed in cooperation with the George Westinghouse Museum and features rare footage and photos from his company archives.

"It puts a face onto the man's name," Bussler says.

The feature-length documentary was released last week in local bookstores and on Amazon.com.

"I'm always looking for projects with something that's interesting and that will have a wide appeal," says the filmmaker.

Bussler, who has done several World's Fair film projects, was drawn to Electro, the Westinghouse robot featured at the 1939 fair in New York. He knew Westinghouse was a Civil War veteran, but didn't know much more about the man behind the companies.

He proposed his idea to do a film on the industrialist to Inecom Entertainment Co., an independent film company in Harmar Township where he is an in-house producer and production manager.

The film tells the story of Westinghouse's victory over Thomas Edison in the Battle of the Currents, which set the stage for the entire future of electric power. Bussler says that while Edison gets the credit for inventing practical electricity, Westinghouse and inventor Nicholas Tesla were the ones that pushed for the AC power used today.

Bussler says while Edison promoted himself, Westinghouse promoted his companies. While other inventors were more "self-centered," Westinghouse was reserved and generous to his employees, who called him "Uncle George."

"His blue-collar employees built a monument to him in the middle of the Great Depression," Bussler says.

The Westinghouse air brake, considered one of the most important inventions in history, automobile shock absorbers and railroad signaling were among his inventions.

The film includes some shots of the East Suburbs -- a panoramic view of the Westinghouse Valley from the Westinghouse Bridge and shots of the air brake plant in Wilmerding, now Wabtech. The film also includes an interview with Edward Reis, executive director of the George Westinghouse Museum, now a part of the Senator John Heinz History Center in Pittsburgh.

As a director, Bussler, 32, has a number of other film credits, including "EXPO -- Magic of the White City" narrated by Gene Wilder, "World War I -- American Legacy" narrated by David Carradine and "Johnstown Flood" narrated by Richard Dreyfuss.