Laura Rusch - New York Fashion Week!

Check out these shots below of IMTA alum model Laura Rusch. She modeled in a huge runway show in New York city at the historic Hudson Theatre. The GIDC (Garment Industry Development Corporation) and Showroom NY celebrated their 25th anniversary with a runway show featuring 15 designers. Laura was one of five models wearing the latest collection from designer Kahri. The collection Kahri - Words Left Unspoken Fall 2009 Collection was during New York Fashion Week. Laura is the model in the blue.

Laura competed at IMTA Los Angeles in January of 2009 and she has a contract offer from Bellissima Models to spend the summer modeling in Bangkok! She was in New York following up with MMG who booked her onsite for the Kahri show! Laura is only 14 years old! Those who work with her say she is lovely inside and out! She received 10 callbacks at IMTA. She also received Honorable Mentions Awards for Makeup, TV beauty, Jeans, Ready for My Closeup and Runway!

Three IMTA Alums Nominated for a Young Artist Awards!

Joesph Castanon, who competed at IMTA in 2006, is nominated for Best Performance in a TV Movie, Miniseries or Special Supporting Young Actor division. This nomination is for the mini series Comanche Moon which aired on CBS, where he portrayed Newt. This is Joseph's fourth nomination- he won Best Performance in a Television Series (Comedy or Drama) - Guest Starring Young Actor Award for Ghost Whisperer in 2006!

Moises Arias competed at IMTA in Los Angeles in 2005 with his brother Mateo. He is nominated for a Best Performance in a TV Series (Comedy or Drama) Supporting Young Actor Young Artist Award! This nomination is for his hilarious role as Rico on the popular Disney TV show Hannah Montana!

Connor Kramme is nominated for Best Performance in a Short Film Young Actor Division. This nomination is for his role as Matt in Alex's Halloween! Connor competed at IMTA in 2007 and just came back this year to present awards at the IMTA convention in Los Angeles!

IMTA alums who won Young Artist Awards in the past include Sofia Vassilieva in 2006 for Best Supporting Young Artist Award in for Best Performance in a TV Drama and in 2004, Alyson Stoner for Best Young Ensemble in a Feature Film for her role in the movie Cheaper by the Dozen!

All of these talented young actors competed at IMTA where they were scouted by the exceptional industry professionals, agents, managers and casting directors who were at IMTA looking for new talent to represent! We Congratulate all of you and look forward to the Young Artist Awards on March 29th!!

Katie Melua: Putting The Pieces Together

Ketevan "Katie" Melua is Georgian, she's British, she's a singer, she's a songwriter, she's a musician, she's talented, she's gifted, she has an amazing voice and she's beautiful.






If ever you've had a troubled day and you need to leave it all behind you, just grab any of Melua's albums, pop it into the CD deck, press play, pour yourself a glass of wine (or other drink of choice), sit in your favorite chair and let Melua's soothing voice wash all of your troubles away...






When I listen to Melua I am immediately reminded of Dido. Her voice is particularly reminiscent of her fellow country woman. On other songs, her sound is comparable to Carly Simon, Cyndi Lauper, Celine Dion and Barbra Streisand.






She began her career in 2003 at the age of 19 by releasing her first studio album Call Off the Search signed to the small Dramatico record under the management of Mike Batt. Batt released the album on his label since he could not attract the attention of the major record labels. The album was mainly pushed/marketed by a local radio station but many listeners were sold on the young artist and as a result, the album was a huge success for Melua reaching #1 on the UK Charts and selling over 1.8 million copies in the first five months. The first single of the album was promoted by Sir Terry Wogan, whose breakfast show on BBC Radio Two was at the time the most listened-to radio show in Europe with 9 million listeners.*As per the comment by anonymous below.*






She followed up with Piece by Piece in September 2005 and this album has proven to be her biggest success to date having gone platinum (selling 1,000,000 copies) four times! In October 2007 Melua released her third album Pictures and announced that it would be her last record under the Dramatico label. Melua has reported that she needs a fresh start. Pictures sold over 1.5 million copies worldwide and over 450,000 copies in the UK alone in the first eight months became certified Platinum and was the 49th Best Selling Album in 2007. She will release a compilation album - a Best of Collection on 3 March 2009.






In 2007 at the age of 23 Melua was the bestselling British female artist in the world. Sales from her first two albums alone were over 7.5 million. Her music has been described as emotionally dark, mainly poetic and sincere and falls into the pop/jazz category.






The artist has a reputation for being sweet and wholesome yet has been described as an adrenaline junkie. She enjoys roller coasters, paragliding and hang gliding, she has skydived four times and has taken several flying lessons. A major highlight of her thrill seeking (risky) adventures was achieved in 2004 when she was lowered from a 200 meter building in New Zealand at 60 mph. She has also raced at 160mph around the Grand Prix circuit Silverstone.






The young artist can boast of many achievements including having toured America coast to coast, she has met and played for Nelson Mandela in South Africa for his Aids charity, is a dedicated Goodwill Ambassador for Save The Children, learned to dive and parachute freefall and she earned a spot in the Guinness World Record for playing the deepest underwater concert 303 meters below sea level on Statoil's Troll A platform in the North on 2 October 2006.






Her career thus far has yielded a number of various prestigious awards within Europe, including a World Music Award, a Golden Kamera Award - Pop International Solo (2006) and two German ECHO Awards - Best International Female Artist (2007) and Best International Newcomer (2005).






Katie is a very humble person. She has come from a modest background and admits that she has not fully come to grips with her celebrity status. There are times when she looks around the plush hotel rooms and have a hard time grasping that she has gained such status looking back on her common background.




I expect that this young superstar will continue to grow and be successful in her career. It is obvious that she is at a point in not only her career but her life as well where she needs to be in control of her own destiny. Her split from former manager Batt will allow her the time and space to reflect on exactly where she is in her life and career and to choose a path which she feels is fitting to take her to the next level. She is searching to find her own common ground and deeper creative energies. Melua is of the opinion that her best is yet to come, she has a desire to go to the next level and I wish her all the best in sorting her thoughts and ideas out and taking the bold step to attain the level of personal success and satisfaction that she is after.

Katie Holmes is on location in New York City!

Katie Holmes, Feb. 23, 2009
On location for The Extra Man

Katie Holmes is on location in New York shooting her new movie, The Extra Man! Her costars include the very funny and talented John C. Reilly, Kevin Klein, and Paul Dano. The comedy is based on the novel by Jonathan Ames. Shooting is happening now on location in the Chelsea district of Manhattan. You can read more about the film's plot, cast, director and read production details on Variety.

Katie competed at IMTA twice, in 1993 and 1995 . She returned a couple of years later to present awards at IMTA and debuted the first fifteen minutes of the pilot episode of Dawson's Creek. The entire ballroom was riveted by this ground-breaking stylish teen drama and Katie received thunderous applause! On that special night, she gave us a very nice interview saying:

"Let's just say a girl from Toledo, Ohio wouldn't end up cast
in a Hollywood movie if it weren't for IMTA!"

You can read a darling letter from Katie Holmes from the IMTA Archives right here exclusively on THAT IMTA BLOG!

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IMTA Spotlights...
Feature Film and Television Star
Katie Holmes...

Katie Holmes attended the IMTA New York Convention in July '95. She signed with Onorato/Guillod Entertainment and was cast in the Ang Lee feature film, Ice Storm with Kevin Kline, Sigourney Weaver and IMTA discovery Elijah Woods, which is slated for a summer release. Katie has recently been cast in the lead role in a new television series "Dawson's Creek" which will air this fall. We have just received the following letter from her and felt it was so incredible that we wanted to share it.

"For years I have spent some time sitting in front of the television from 7:00 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. listening intently to John Tesh and Mary Hart inform me about which star was filming what new movie, who was dating who, and who was the rising new actor or actress. Hollywood and its numerous success stories seemed extremely far away and definitely from a world that I would never come into contact with.

On July 23, 1995 my life changed. This particular Sunday evening, I found myself in the New York Hilton for the International Modeling and Talent Association Convention. I was sitting in one of the ballrooms reciting a monologue in front of about 50 other contestants, as well as Al Onorato, David Guillod and Bobby Moresco, the men who were conducting this seminar on "Prepare to Compete". After I had finished, Al and Bobby offered some direction and had me alter it a little. I used my nervous anxiety to help me become more intense and, following my second performance, I felt elated. It was clear to me that something very special occurred in that ballroom that evening.

About six months later, I found myself in the Los Angeles office of Al Onorato, rehearsing an audition piece for the Ang Lee, film The Ice Storm. David, Al and Bobby had become my business managers following that memorable convention and encouraged me to audition in Los Angeles during the 6-week pilot season. Instead of viewing Hollywood on my T.V., I was there. Being in that untouchable world, experiencing the life of a beginning actress, was surreal. Suddenly this strange path of life seemed so normal. I love it.

My experience grew even more unbelievable. On May 21, 1996 I found myself in a trailer on Park Avenue in New York City, getting my hair and make-up done in order to transform myself into a teenager from 1973. I was anxiously waiting to begin filming The Ice Storm. Suddenly, I was part of Hollywood. I was then inside the walls of the business instead of remaining a curious outsider gazing in, struggling to discover what exactly takes place on the inside. I found myself chatting with actors whom I had read about for several years. After receiving directions by the highly acclaimed Hollywood director, Ang Lee, and talking to Kevin Kline for a substantial amount of time, it was time to begin becoming a professional actress.

My rather eventful and definitely memorable year provided me with such valuable life-long lessons that will forever remain a part of me. Fortunately, I was able to work with extremely focused, conscientious people who are completely unconcerned with the Hollywood myth. They work hard at their jobs and then retreat home to their families. I discovered that the Hollywood portrayed on Entertainment Tonight of exciting parties, premieres, galas, etc. is a distortion. The Hollywood I came into contact with is one of extremely talented people who spend their time participating in acting workshops, auditions, films, etc. in order to perfect their craft. The highly respected actors and directors are solely concerned with their work and concentrate on ways to improve. Although "Tinsletown" continues to be a mystery to all and several have benefited from the fortunate fate that seems to occur only in Hollywood, it remains to be true that even in Hollywood, those who diligently work hard are the people who achieve true and long-lasting success."

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Are you interested in competing at IMTA and seeing if you have what it takes to be a model, actor, singer or dancer? Please fill out our IMTA Information Request Form and browse our list of upcoming local searches.

Haley Bennett in The Haunting of Molly Hartley released on DVD Today!!

IMTA alum Haley Bennett plays the title role in the horror movie The Haunting of Molly Hartley which out on DVD today! She plays a teenage girl, who on the eve of her 18th birthday, discovers that her parents made a pact with the devil to save her life. When the devil comes to collect, she must figure out how she can save herself. The movie is directed by Micky Lidell and also stars Chace Crawford.

Haley competed at IMTA in 2001 where she wowed the agents and managers who were at IMTA scouting for new talent. Haley was also part of the star-studded cast of the holiday event movie Marley & Me! The cast featured Jennifer Aniston and Owen Wilson as the leads in the romantic comedy. Her first big movie was Music and Lyrics where she acted and sang! Haley is in post-production on a new film called Arcadia Lost. She is currently working on a new thriller called The Hole where she portrays the character Julie Campbell. This scary movie is due out in 2010!

Jessica Biel is radiant at the Academy Awards!

IMTA alum Jessica Biel shined at last night's 81st Annual Academy Awards! She was a hit in an ivory silk duchesse satin Prada dress on the red carpet! The E! coverage Live From the Red Carpet commentators raved about Jessica, saying, "Jessica Biel also wore a light color...I am really partial to it. The big blowsy bow that is coming over and right in at the the waist...I think it is really architecturally interesting. It's striking. It's very dynamic and she stands out on the red carpet."

Jessica was outstanding on stage too as she spoke very elegantly before an estimated billion viewers worldwide and recapped her recent honor of hosting the Science and Technical Academy Awards. As E! online says,"A reigning Hollywood hottie always hosts the Sci-Tech Oscars, with Biel following in the footsteps of Jessica Alba, Scarlett Johansson and Charlize Theron."

Jessica competed at IMTA in 1994 where she debuted her acting, singing and dancing abilities. She signed with an agent and manager who helped her land the breakthrough role of Mary Camden on the beloved long-running WB series 7th Heaven. She has gone on to star in many major motion pictures such as I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry, The Illusionist, Stealth, Elizabethtown, Home of the Brave, Easy Virtue, Nailed, Powder Blue and Next.

Piper Perabo Imagine Me And You

Me and Piper Perabo together; I don't even want to begin to imagine the possibilities! Piper Perabo; Me, you, secluded cottage, wine, soft lights, romantic music... *sigh*. Piper Perabo - imagine me and you.








There are some blogs that cause me some form of hesitancy; some sort of 'what the hell do I say?', 'how to I put into words, my excitement, my whims and/or my fantasies?' This blog is one of those.








When I think of how I feel about Perabo too many thoughts rush to my brain all at once and believe me a brain freeze while trying to compose a blog is down right inappropriate. This is not the time to get so caught up that you sit, stare and sigh at the images of such a beauty on your screen.








Piper has not had a very long career, neither does she have a long string of box office hits to her credit, however, what Perabo does have is the love, respect and admiration of quite a number of doting fans (yours truly included) as well as some really nice and well received movies.








I was not impressed with the first movie of her that I've seen. And I am referring to both the movie and her performance in said movie. Which movie? Coyote Ugly (2000). It wasn't an awful movie but it certainly wasn't a great movie either.








To be completely honest, if the cast members were any different, maybe I would not have watched the movie at all. But in all seriousness, when the main cast of a movie include Perabo, Maria Bello, Izabella Miko, Tyra Banks and Briget Moynahan it's kinda hard not to watch wouldn't you say. And moreover, when said movie include scenes of these women dressed in tight-fitting leather apparel doing (dance) numbers on a bar counter then I'd say that my hands were pretty much tied.








Now throw in LeAnn Rimes and some truly gratifying and enjoyable songs and you've got, to some extent, a must see movie *smiles*. Coyote Ugly has gone from being an unimpressive movie to a must see movie in 12 seconds flat! (How contradictory can I be? You don't want to know).








My next 'run in' with Perabo was when she appeared in the 2003 comedy - Cheaper by the Dozen. I enjoyed every bit of this movie and still take the opportunity to see it whenever I can. By this time my affinity for the young actress was taking root. Then in 2005 it happened! Perabo was paired with one of my eternal obsessions, the gorgeous British bombshell Lena Headey, in one of the most significant and romantic films as far as the LGBT community is concerned - Imagine Me and You.








Perabo was at the top of her game and not just because of the role itself. No, it was the way in which she carried the role; she took the role and made it compellingly real. Watching her performance placed you right in the middle of it all, it was not just a movie, you were all caught up in it. She made the emotions real, the conflict, the angst, the indecision, the sense and pressure of the guilt of betrayal. Her performance, in my opinion, was reminiscent of a Meryl Streep portrayal.








Also in 2005 she reprised her role in Cheaper by the Dozen 2, in 2006 she had roles in 10th & Wolf, First Snow and The Prestige (alongside Hugh Jackman, Christian Bale and Michael Caine). The following year she teamed up with Diane Keaton, Mandy Moore and Lauren Graham in the comedy/romance Because I Said So.








In 2008, along with the likes of Drew Barrymore and Loretta Divine, she participated in her second animated film playing the role of Rachel Ashe Lynn in Beverly Hills Chihuahua. Two of her latest films include Ashes (drama) - no release date as yet and Sordid Things (post-production).








She won her first and only award to date in 2001 for her role in Coyote Ugly when she won the MTV Movie Award for Best Music Moment (for singing One Way Or Another). She took singing and guitar lessons to prepare for this role. I am waiting for Perabo to make her big break on the big screen. I am confident that she has what it takes and that given the right opportunity, she will do it.








In the mean time I will just have to settle for a daily visit to my Piper Perabo shrine. Here's wishing you a fun and safe weekend.