Gersh U

As part of the 6th Annual NYU Sports Film Festival, Gersh U partners with NYUSFF to present an immersive afternoon of panels and live programming exploring the intersection of sports, media, and culture.

Moderated by Jayson Council, Head of Culture at Gersh Talent Agency, the event brings together a dynamic group of athletes, executives, strategists, and storytellers whose work spans the court, the community, and the evolving business of sports. Across three panels, the conversation moves from a deeply personal father-son dialogue on legacy in basketball, to a broader examination of community impact and cultural strategy, and concludes with an inside look at athlete representation, content creation, and the future of sports media.

Featuring speakers including Carnegie Johnson and Claude Johnson, Ionie Banner and Caleb Miner, and Gersh executives Deirunas Visockas, Jared Thompson, and Julia Benavides, each discussion offers a distinct, experience-driven perspective on how the sports ecosystem is being shaped today.

Throughout the afternoon, DJ Nate Da Barber provides a live, curated soundtrack that carries the energy of the event—setting the tone as guests arrive, bridging transitions between panels, and transforming the Production Lab into a space that feels as much cultural gathering as it does industry forum.

Designed for students, creators, and industry professionals alike, this event offers a rare opportunity to engage directly with the people building the future of sports storytelling—both on stage and in the room.

Date | Saturday, April 18th

Time | 1:30-4:30pm – doors open at 1:00pm

Location | NYU Production Lab

Accommodation Statement: The NYU Production Lab provides reasonable accommodations to people with disabilities. Requests for accommodations for events and services should be submitted at least two weeks before the date of the accommodation need. Please email [email protected] for assistance.

Audience Notice: By entering the venue and live proceedings, you agree to be video and/or audio recorded by the producers of the event.

Theater Capacity: As all our events are 100% free, we don't reserve specific seats per guest as they are instead claimed on a first-come, first-serve basis. Early arrival is the best way to assure a seat for you and company.

NYU Campus: Whie events will be held in New York University buildings and facilities, non-NYU community can still attend upon getting a (free) "Non-NYU" ticket more than 24 hours in advance of the events.

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Info: This panel is anchored by a rare and intimate dynamic: a conversation between father and son.

Carnegie Johnson, captain of the NYU men’s basketball team and a rising leader on and off the court, joins his father, Claude Johnson—founder of the Black Fives Foundation and one of the foremost historians of early Black basketball—to explore how the game evolves across generations.

Together, they bring two distinct but deeply connected perspectives: one rooted in the lived experience of today’s athlete, and the other in preserving the untold history that made that experience possible. Moderated by Jayson Council, this discussion examines legacy, mentorship, and how understanding the past shapes the future of the game.

Info: This conversation brings together two professionals working at the intersection of sports, culture, and community impact.

Ionie Banner approaches the industry through data, equity, and philanthropy—focusing on how strategy and infrastructure can drive meaningful, community-centered outcomes. Caleb Miner, a marketing strategist who has worked with brands like PUMA, NASCAR, and athletes including Chris Paul and Carmelo Anthony, brings a cultural and creative lens to how sports lives within broader communities.

Moderated by Jayson Council, this panel explores how data, storytelling, and cultural insight converge to shape campaigns, partnerships, and experiences that resonate authentically.

Info: This panel offers a direct look into the business of sports through the voices of those building careers behind the scenes.

Deirunas Visockas, Executive Vice President of Gersh Sports and a certified NBPA agent, brings deep expertise in player representation, contract negotiation, and the global basketball landscape. He’s joined by Jared Thompson, a Vice President in Alternative Programming who works across unscripted television, digital content, and brand partnerships, and Julia Benavides, a digital agent representing a new generation of creators and public figures.

Moderated by Jayson Council, this conversation pulls back the curtain on how talent is developed, represented, and positioned across sports, media, and emerging platforms.

Info: As part of the Gersh U x NYUSFF programming, DJ Nate Da Barber provides a live, curated soundtrack that shapes the energy of the NYU Production Lab throughout the afternoon.

Positioned as a constant presence during the panels, his role is to elevate the environment without disrupting the conversations—setting the tone as guests arrive, carrying momentum through transitions, and creating a dynamic backdrop between sessions. His sound bridges the space between formal discussion and cultural experience, reinforcing the themes of sport, storytelling, and community being explored on stage.

With decades of experience reading diverse crowds and building atmosphere in real time, DJ Nate Da Barber brings a level of polish and intentionality that transforms the panels from a traditional talk format into a fully immersive event environment.

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Host or Publisher NYU Sports Film Festival