VERSUS

"Versus sits in that space where brands stop interrupting culture and actually start participating in it."  The Global Entertainment Marketing Academy of Arts & Sciences sat down with Versus Head of Content Partnerships, Michele Fino to discuss all things creative, brand content, and how "Excellent creative and storytelling drives buzz, conversation and, ultimately, cultural awareness." Read the full article here! -  https://lnkd.in/gavjZFjD Justin Barnes Robert Meyers Samantha Louise K.C. Gulino Luis Aguirre Kevin Sypek Kathryn Henderson Jay Harwood Brian Sanford David Edelstein Justin O. Tom Colabraro Mark Grande Steven Lambiase Soukaina Alaoui El Hassani Marc Fusco Betsy Watson Tony Kadillak Desirée Abeyta Izabella Davis Carrie Spott Stockmal Steven Weinzierl Chris Martinez Michele Fino Jeffrey Dates Jon Lerner

Versus new original film about famed rapper Big L, is getting a lot of press as we move into production. The film, titled "The Parable of Lamont Coleman” Directed by Clark Slater and produced by Versus, marks the first time the Phinazee family and the Big L estate have formally approved and participated in a project about the late Harlem rapper. The documentary goes beyond music or true crime, exploring a layered story of family, loyalty, and conflict rooted in Harlem’s 139th Street. It examines decades of relationships, betrayals, and unresolved violence tied to Coleman’s life and legacy. The film is set to release in late 2026. Watch this space for updates! Justin Barnes Robert Meyers Samantha Louise K.C. Gulino Luis Aguirre Kevin Sypek Kathryn Henderson Jay Harwood Brian Sanford David Edelstein Justin O. Tom Colabraro Mark Grande Steven Lambiase Soukaina Alaoui El Hassani Marc Fusco Betsy Watson Anna Patricia Miranda-Molinos Tony Kadillak Desirée Abeyta Izabella Davis Carrie Spott Stockmal Steven Weinzierl Chris Martinez Michele Fino Jeffrey Dates Jon Lerner

Back from SXSW and still energized from our incredible talk at the ADWEEK House. Versus ECD Justin Barnes, had the opportunity to join Ian Mallitz from The The Walt Disney Company and Josh Pelzek from Audible to talk about the evolving role of brand, entertainment, and role of I.P. in storytelling. The discussion focused on the craft and strategy behind turning iconic properties into immersive, brand-led experiences that travel across borders and mediums. From cinematic storytelling to immersive worlds, the throughline was clear: today’s creative leaders are building worlds, not campaigns. Grateful to ADWEEK for the platform and to Ian Mallitz and Josh Pelzek for such a thoughtful exchange. It's always inspiring to connect with industry leaders who are pushing the boundaries of how brands and stories live in culture. Justin Barnes Robert Meyers Samantha Louise K.C. Gulino Luis Aguirre Kevin Sypek Kathryn Henderson Jay Harwood Brian Sanford David Edelstein Justin O. Tom Colabraro Mark Grande Steven Lambiase Soukaina Alaoui El Hassani Marc Fusco Betsy Watson Anna Patricia Miranda-Molinos Tony Kadillak Desirée Abeyta Izabella Davis Carrie Spott Stockmal Steven Weinzierl Chris Martinez Michele Fino Jeffrey Dates Jon Lerner Clark Slater

Versus fearless leader and Head of Production Desirée Abeyta will be speaking at Soapbox Women event, "Open to Work" a career workshop and panel offering advice and insight on how to navigate today’s creative job search - practically and emotionally. Register here!  https://lnkd.in/gtf4JxsN Justin Barnes Robert Meyers Samantha Louise K.C. Gulino Luis Aguirre Kevin Sypek Kathryn Henderson Jay Harwood Brian Sanford David Edelstein Justin O. Tom Colabraro Mark Grande Steven Lambiase Soukaina Alaoui El Hassani Marc Fusco Betsy Watson Anna Patricia Miranda-Molinos Tony Kadillak Desirée Abeyta Izabella Davis Carrie Spott Stockmal Steven Weinzierl Chris Martinez Michele Fino Jeffrey Dates Jon Lerner

Who is going to SXSW?? Versus EP, Agency Partnerships, K.C. Gulino and Versus Head of Growth and Partnerships, Brand, David Edelstein will be there in full Versus force, as well as Versus ECD Justin Barnes who will be giving a talk alongside The Walt Disney Company and Audible at ADWEEK house this Sunday! If you are at SXSW, reach out and say hello, and grab a few tacos with the team! Ian Mallitz Josh Pelzek Justin Barnes Robert Meyers Samantha Louise K.C. Gulino Luis Aguirre Kevin Sypek Kathryn Henderson Jay Harwood Brian Sanford David Edelstein Justin O. Tom Colabraro Mark Grande Steven Lambiase Soukaina Alaoui El Hassani Marc Fusco Betsy Watson Anna Patricia Miranda-Molinos Tony Kadillak Desirée Abeyta Izabella Davis Carrie Spott Stockmal Steven Weinzierl Chris Martinez Michele Fino Jeffrey Dates Jon Lerner

In honor of Bam Adebayo's historic 83-point game this week, we are sharing some older work we did with our friends at JBL Professional "Sonic Stories." Versus created a unique series that pushed the limits of creative storytelling. Our portrait of Bam Adebayo spotlighted an athlete whose focus, preparation, and competitive mindset were game-changing. Following Bam's historic 83-point performance, the piece feels almost prophetic, spotlighting the mentality needed to produce a record-setting night through Versus' award-winning work that blends sport, culture, and brand storytelling that resonates far beyond the launch. Octavio Sobreiro Jr rubin keyser carasco Justin Barnes Robert Meyers Samantha Louise K.C. Gulino Luis Aguirre Kevin Sypek Kathryn Henderson Jay Harwood Brian Sanford David Edelstein Justin O. Tom Colabraro Mark Grande Steven Lambiase Soukaina Alaoui El Hassani Marc Fusco Betsy Watson Anna Patricia Miranda-Molinos Tony Kadillak Desirée Abeyta Izabella Davis Carrie Spott Stockmal Steven Weinzierl Chris Martinez Michele Fino

Last week the Versus team gathered in our NYC studio, with others joining remotely, as we logged another Versus Town Hall into the books. We celebrated the incredible work from the past few months, welcomed new faces, and rallied around the challenges ahead. We cheered the wins and the losses, and most importantly celebrated the undeniably talented Versus team that makes it all possible. In what often feels like an industry in constant shift and uncertainty, the fearless team at Versus continues to meet every challenge head on, creating some of the most creative and craft-driven work out there. #weareversus Justin Barnes Robert Meyers Samantha Louise K.C. Gulino Luis Aguirre Kevin Sypek Kathryn Henderson Jay Harwood Brian Sanford David Edelstein Justin O. Tom Colabraro Mark Grande Steven Lambiase Soukaina Alaoui El Hassani Marc Fusco Betsy Watson Anna Patricia Miranda-Molinos Tony Kadillak Desirée Abeyta Izabella Davis Carrie Spott Stockmal Steven Weinzierl Chris Martinez Michele Fino Jeffrey Dates Jason Moore Jon Lerner

Excited to share our latest case study for Audible, launching Harry Potter: The Full-Cast Audio Editions. More than a release, this was an immersive, cultural moment for fans around the world. Versus partnered across the full launch campaign, from creative ideation, to design, production, and global delivery. From digital to immersive environments, full train wraps, site specific takeovers, and more, this global release was as massive as it was magical.   HUGE thank you to the Audible teams for their partnership and trust in bringing this to life, and pushing to make sure each delivery was more creative and amazing than the last.   See the work and some BTS here - https://lnkd.in/gWK7wHXf   Harry Potter: The Full-Cast Audio Editions was produced by Pottermore Publishing and Audible. carol C. Tynisha Lonon Emma Shepherd Michael McSweeny Esra Yalcin Tim Koppenhafer Amit Wehle Kyle Russell Josh Pelzek Justin Barnes Robert Meyers Samantha Louise K.C. Gulino Luis Aguirre Kevin Sypek Kathryn Henderson Jay Harwood Brian Sanford David Edelstein Justin O. Tom Colabraro Mark Grande Steven Lambiase Soukaina Alaoui El Hassani Marc Fusco Betsy Watson Anna Patricia Miranda-Molinos Tony Kadillak Desirée Abeyta Izabella Davis Carrie Spott (Stockmal) Steven Weinzierl Chris Martinez Michele Fino Jeffrey Dates 

We’re excited to welcome Michele Fino to the Versus team as Head of Content Partnerships! As Versus continues to blur the boundaries between brand and entertainment, Michele will help shape the intersection of original IP and brand storytelling, where long-form and short-form content, distribution strategy, and partnership design converge. Her focus is turning creative ambition into funded, culturally relevant work and helping brands participate in entertainment in ways that feel intentional and enduring. A longtime branded entertainment leader, Michele joins at a moment when brands are investing more deeply in original IP and storytelling, and when partnerships are evolving into full-ecosystem platforms spanning content, experiential, retail, and social impact. With experience spanning major entertainment franchises and strategic brand partnerships, she brings a powerful perspective on building storytelling platforms that grow over time. Read the full press release from shots here! - https://lnkd.in/d6XVq49E Justin Barnes Robert Meyers Samantha Louise K.C. Gulino Luis Aguirre Kevin Sypek Kathryn Henderson Jay Harwood Brian Sanford David Edelstein Justin O. Tom Colabraro Mark Grande Steven Lambiase Soukaina Alaoui El Hassani Marc Fusco Betsy Watson Anna Patricia Miranda-Molinos Tony Kadillak Desirée Abeyta Izabella Davis Carrie Spott (Stockmal) Steven Weinzierl Chris Martinez Michele Fino

Versus ECD Justin Barnes, is taking the stage at ADWEEK’s SXSW event in Austin alongside friends and clients Ian Mallitz of The Walt Disney Company and Josh Pelzek of Audible to discuss Scaling Entertainment IP From Animation to Imagination! The conversation will center on recent work and what it takes to transform beloved IP into immersive, global cultural moments. Together, they’ll unpack how iconic properties scale in today’s landscape and how creative leaders are reimagining them through brand-led storytelling. Join us at Adweek House Sunday, March 15, 2026, 4:25 PM - 4:50 PM Register here:  https://lnkd.in/g6-RmYTu Justin Barnes Robert Meyers Samantha Louise K.C. Gulino Luis Aguirre Kevin Sypek Kathryn Henderson Jay Harwood Brian Sanford David Edelstein Justin O. Tom Colabraro Mark Grande Steven Lambiase Soukaina Alaoui El Hassani Marc Fusco Betsy Watson Anna Patricia Miranda-Molinos Tony Kadillak Desirée Abeyta Izabella Davis Carrie Spott (Stockmal) Steven Weinzierl Chris Martinez Clark Slater