Sir Castanon Nominated for an eWorld Music Award!

Check out IMTA alum Sir Castanon, aka as Joesph Castanon, in his video called Puppeteer. Joesph performed this weekend at the eWorld Music Awards where he was nominated for Male Artist of the Year! The eWorld Music Awards recognizes the top independent music artists from around the world. Joesph also performed Friday night at the world famous Whisky A Go-Go in Hollywood.

Joseph competed at IMTA in 2004 where he met and signed with Martin Weiss Management. He went on to star in the hit Adam Sandler movie Click and recently wrapped Nic & Tristen Go Mega Dega, Santa's Little Helper and Prodigal. He recently co-starred in the film Happiness Runs where he plays the role of Little Mackie.

Joseph Castanon sings Chandelier!

Check out IMTA alum Joseph Castanon (aka Sir Castanon) in this just released awesome new music video called Chandelier! Joseph recently co-starred in the film Happiness Runs. Joseph plays the role of Little Mackie in this movie. Joseph competed at IMTA in 2004 where he met and signed with Martin Weiss Management. Joseph recently wrapped Nic & Tristen Go Mega Dega, Santa's Little Helper and Prodigal.

Joseph Castanon in Happiness Runs

Joseph Castanon co-stars in the film Happiness Runs which is opening tonight May 7! The film also stars Andie McDowell and Rutger Hauer and Joesph plays the role of Little Mackie. He competed at IMTA in 2004 where he met and signed with Martin Weiss Management. Joseph recently wrapped Nic & Tristen, Go Mega Dega, Santa's Little Helper and Prodigal.

Vote for IMTA's Joseph Castanon, Kayley Stallings and Sofia Vassilieva!

Vote for IMTA alums Kayley Stallings, Joseph Castanon and Sofia Vassilieva for a Young Artist Awards. These awards are given once a year and are are like Oscars for children! You can vote up to April 10, then the vote will be tabulated. The official award ceremony will be at the Gala event scheduled to take place on Sunday April 11, 2010 at the Beverly Garland in Studio City, California. Joseph is nominated in the BEST PERFORMANCE IN A SHORT FILM for a Young Actor in the film Santa's Little Helper where he portrayed Marlon. He competed at IMTA in 2004 and he recently wrapped Nic and Tristan Go Mega Dega. His movie Happiness Runs is opening in limited release May 7, 2010!

Kayley is nominated for BEST PERFORMANCE IN LIVE THEATER in the play How The Grinch Stole Christmas. Kayley, who competed at IMTA in 2006, starred as the adorable Cindy-Lou Who in the play. Kayley recently booked the film The Dog Who Saved Christmas Vacation!

Sofia Vassilieva is nominated for BEST PERFORMANCE IN A FEATURE FILM for a Supporting Young Actress. She competed at IMTA in 2000 and is nominated for her role in My Sister's Keeper. Sofia can be seen as Ariel Dubois in the popular TV show Medium!

Please vote for Joseph, Kayley and Sofia for Young Actor Awards!

Joseph Castanon in Big The Musical!

IMTA alum Joseph Castanon is starring in a theater version of the movie BIG! The play is based on the book by Joseph Weidman. The play is currently being performed by the West Coast Ensemble at the El Centro Theatre in Hollywood. The run began May 8th and continues through the summer. Joseph can also be seen in an encore presentation of Jericho on Monday May 18th when SCIFI re-airs the pilot for the show!


Joseph competed at IMTA in 2004 where he met and signed with Martin Weiss Management and Abrams Artists Agency. He has starred in the following films: Happiness Runs, Plot 7, Click, Dead Write, Little Wings, Click. and Brothers. He has appeared in the following television shows: I Hate My 30s, Shark, Jericho, Pepper Dennis, NCIS, Without a Trace, Crossing Jordan, and Badlands. In February, Joseph won a Young Artist Award for Best Performance in a TV Movie, Miniseries or Special Supporting Young Actor division. This win was for the mini series Comanche Moon which aired on CBS, where he portrayed Newt. This is Joseph's fourth nomination and second win- he won Best Performance in a Television Series (Comedy or Drama) - Guest Starring Young Actor Award for Ghost Whisperer in 2006!

Joseph Castanon in Comanche Moon Tonight on CBS

IMTA alum Joseph Castanon stars as Newt in Comanche Moon. This six hour miniseries is the prequel to Lonesome Dove which was one of the most successful miniseries in history. Comanche Moon tells the story about two men, Woodrow F. Call and Augustus McCrae, who enlist in the Texas Rangers and work together catch crooks and outlaws. This miniseries portrays them in their youth rather than as adults as in the sequel Lonesome Dove.

Joseph competed at IMTA in 2004 where he met then signed with Martin Weiss Management and Abrams Artists Agency. He has co-starred in the following films: Happiness Runs, Plot 7, the hilarious comedy Click, Dead Write, Little Wings and Brothers. He has appeared in the following television shows: Shark, Jericho, Pepper Dennis, NCIS, Without a Trace, Crossing Jordan, multiple episodes of VH-1's I Hate My 30s, a comical role on NBC's E.R. and Badlands. His work on Ghost Whisperer was submitted for consideration for an Emmy Award. Joseph just guest starred on October Road last night! Don't miss this talented young actor tonight in Comanche Moon on CBS.

Happy Halloween from IMTA!

In the mood for something spooky tonight? Check out some of the scary movies and television shows starring IMTA alumni :

Fox/MGM Home Entertainment has just released The Initiation Of Sarah which stars Mika Boorem on DVD. In this horror movie, Mika plays college student Sarah Goodman who uses her magical powers against a dark evil that a group of sorority sisters are using against her "good" sorority. Since attending IMTA in New York in 1994, Mika has guest-starred on various television shows including The Drew Carey Show, Ally McBeal, Touched By An Angel, and Dawson's Creek which starred IMTA alum Katie Holmes. She has received two nominations for a Young Artist Award for her roles in the Christmas movie, Jack Frost and the blockbuster movie The Patriot with Mel Gibson. She has also been in the following films: Sleepover with fellow IMTA alums Kallie Flynn Childress and Sean Faris, the surfer movie Blue Crush and Riding in the Car with Boys. She just wrapped Jess Stone: Sea of Change, guest-starred as a teenager who has a genetic inability to feel pain on House in an episode called Insensitive, and just wrapped the drama Trucker.

IMTA superstar Elijah Woods is the voice of the title character Spyro in the awesome new video game called The Legend of Spyro: The Eternal Night available in stores now! Elijah just wrapped the thriller The Oxford Murders which features him as a grad student at Oxford University who works with his professor to try and stop a potential series of murders seemingly linked by mathematical symbols. Currently, he is doing a voice over for an animated action adventure film called 9, a post-apocalyptic nightmare in which all of humanity is threatened. He got his start at IMTA in 1989 when he was signed by agent Al Onorato, moved from Cedar Rapids, Iowa to Los Angeles and booked his first role in Paula Abdul's memorable video Straight Up. His enormous film career includes such wonderful feature films as Happy Feet, Bobby, Everything is Illuminated, Sin City, Spy Kids 3 Game Over, Day Zero, and the Academy Award-winning trilogy The Lord of the Rings. Elijah has starred in over 40 feature films in his career and is one of young Hollywood's (and IMTA's!) most-loved actors.

Riley Smith stars as Randy in the horror film Eight Legged Freaks available on DVD. The residents of a rural mining town discover that an unfortunate chemical spill has caused hundreds of little spiders to mutate overnight to the size of SUVs. It's then up to a mining engineer and the Sheriff to mobilize an odd group of townspeople to battle against the bloodthirsty eight-legged beasts. Riley recently released his first CD with his band The Life of Riley! You can listen to his great new songs on his official band MySpace. He competed at IMTA in 1997 and has been busy working in television and movies ever since. He has been in many notable television shows and films such as: 7th Heaven, Freaks and Geeks, Gideon's Crossing, Boston Public, CSI: Miami, 24, Radio, and Weapons. He recently wrapped Gallowwalkers where he stars as Fabulos in this tale of about a mysterious gunman, played by Wesley Snipes, who is the son of a nun who breaks her covenant with God to ensure his survival. This act brings a curse upon him and everyone he kills come back to life as Zombies. Aman enlists Fabulos, a new young warrior, to fight by his side.

The DVD of the first season of Ghost Whisperer is out and IMTA alum Joseph Castanon had a major guest-starring role in the second episode of season 1. Joseph's performance as Kenny in the episode The Crossing earned critical acclaim, a Young Artist Award and consideration for other major Hollywood honors! He played a lost child spirit who needed to be reunited with his family. Joseph competed at IMTA in New York in 2004 and signed with Martin Weiss Management and Abrams Artists Agency. Joseph relocated from Denver to L.A. and he has been working ever since!

Rent the thriller Next starring Jessica Biel as Liz in a story about a Las Vegas magician Cris Johnson who has a secret which torments him: he can see a few minutes into the future. He uses this talent to perform cheap tricks to make a living. When a terrorist group threatens to detonate a nuclear device in Los Angeles, the government uses all its power to convince Chris to help them save LA. Jessica also starred in the horror movie The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. This film from 2003 is based loosely on true events that inspired both the original and this update of the classic horror film about a some friends that become trapped in the company of a deadly group of cannibals that is guaranteed to scare you silly! Jessica competed at IMTA in Los Angeles in 1994 and won a scholarship to a prestigious acting school. She moved from Boulder to L.A. and began her acting career which would bring her international fame.

Check out Katie Holmes in the hit MGM 1998 psychological thriller Disturbing Behavior which airs today on the Life Channel. The teen horror flick is about murderous rebellion and Katie is great in her role as an inquisitive teen. In the scenic town of Cradle Bay, the teen population is remarkably well-behaved. It's up to the scruffy new arrivals to uncover the diabolical means by which the town's grown-ups exert their influence. Katie competed at IMTA in New York in 1995 and starred as Joey Potter on the hit WB series Dawson's Creek for six seasons. She is currently filming the major comedy motion picture Mad Money.

Ashton Kutcher stars in the haunting thriller The Butterfly Effect. He plays Evan Treborn who suffers from memory blackouts where he suddenly finds himself somewhere else, confused and no one believes him. Something bad always seems to happen during these blackouts and as Evan grows up he grows out of them. Since the age of seven he has written a diary of his blackout moments so he can remember what happens. One day at college he starts to read one of his old diaries, and suddenly a flashback hits him like a brick! Ashton competed at IMTA in 1997 and won Most Sought After Male Model with a record number of callbacks. Some of his many projects include the movies Dude, Where's My Car, The Guardian, Guess Who, Open Season, My Boss's Daughter and Bobby. He starred in the hilarious long running television series That 70's Show as the dumb but lovable Kelso. He created and produced the hilarious TV show Punk'd and his newest television show Miss Guided will air on ABC as a mid-season replacement in the fall schedule and the network has recently ordered 13 more episodes. Recently, Hollywood Reporter announced a new two year production partnership with Ashton's Katalyst Films and ABC.

If these sound too spooky for you, try Casper A Spirited Beginning starring IMTA alum Brendon Ryan Barrett and Casper the friendly Ghost. This a prequel to the Casper story from 20th Century Fox and it explains how Casper's ghostly life began. Brendon is the star of this classic family film.

Happy Halloween from all of us at IMTA!!!

Joesph Castanon and Miles Heizer on ER October 18!

Don't miss Joesph Castanon guest starring with another IMTA alum Miles Heizer on ER on NBC this week in an episode named Gravity airing Thursday October 18. Joesph stars as Reggie Santo and Miles stars as Joshua Lipnicki in this medical drama in its 14 season. This show revolves around the various stories of people who end up in the emergency and the doctors and staff who treat them.

Joesph competed at IMTA in 2004 where he met then signed with Martin Weiss Management and Abrams Artists Agency. He has starred in the following films: Happiness Runs, Plot 7, Click, Dead Write, Little Wings and Brothers. He has appeared in the following television shows: I Hate My 30s, Shark, Jericho, Pepper Dennis, NCIS, Without a Trace, Crossing Jordan, and Badlands. His work on Ghost Whisperer was submitted for consideration for an Emmy Award.

Miles competed at IMTA in New York in 2004 where he won Pre-Teen Male Model of the Year. He was First-Runner Up for Pre-Teen Actor of the Year and caught the attention of the renowned manager TJ Stein of Stein Entertainment Group. Miles and his family relocated to Los Angeles. He's appeared on CSI: Miami, Shark, Bones and had a starring role in the short feature film Paramedic before landing a recurring role on ER. He co-starred in the motion picture Rails and Ties which will premiere nationwide October 26.

Tune in this Thursday October 18 to see these two young rising IMTA stars on the hit series ER!!!

Watch the MTV Movie Awards Live June 3rd!

Two of IMTA's most famous alumni are presenting at the MTV Movie Awards this Sunday. Both Jessica Biel and Josh Duhamel will take the stage to present a Golden Popcorn Award at the huge event which will take place and air live this weekend. Some of the movies that are up for nominations have IMTA alums starring in them such as Nacho Libre for Best Fight and features Moises Arias, Click which is up for Best Comedic Performance and features Joseph Castanon and Josh Duhamel's highly anticipated movie Transformers: The Movie for Best Summer Movie You Haven't Seen Yet.

Josh and Jessica have been very busy since competing at IMTA. Jessica is featured in this month's Elle Magazine, has a movie, Next, in theaters now and a movie I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry hitting theaters July 20. Josh just wrapped another season of the wildly popular television series Las Vegas and is starring in one of the most anticipated movies of the summer Transformers The Movie in theaters July 3. To get more information on the MTV Movie Awards, please visit their official site. Good luck to all the IMTA alumni who will be involved in this fun awards evening!!

MTV Movie Award Nominations Include IMTA Alumni Films!

The 2007 MTV Movie Awards nominations were announced this week and IMTA Alumni films are among the honorees! Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest leads the pack as the most-nominated film for this year's MTV Movie Awards. Two IMTA alums appeared in this widely popular movie, Americus Abesamis and Neil Panlasigui.

Click, which co- stars the young IMTA alum Joseph Castanon,also received a nomination for a MTV movie award. Joseph portrays the lead character's ( Adam Sandler) son.

Another young up and coming actor and IMTA alum, Moises Arias's film Nacho Libre is up for an award as well.

One of IMTA's most recognizable actors Josh Duhamel has a movie nominated in a new category: his upcoming film The Transformers: The Movie is competing for 'Best Summer Movie You Haven't Seen Yet'. Tune in June 3rd live to see how many of these fabulous IMTA alumni films will be honored by the MTV movie awards. If you have not seen these movies yet, they are all available on DVD and remember to cast your vote for one the IMTA alumni films on MTV's official site!

Two important Saturday television appearances by IMTA alumni!

IMTA alumni actors Joseph Castanon, Jeremy James Kissner, and Lauren Storm all have major television appearances this Saturday. CBS is re-airing the episode of Shark that Joseph appeared on as a guest-star. This is the role that earned him a nomination for a Young Artists Award. The winner will be announced later this month. Shark airs at 8 or 9pm depending on your area. Please check your local listings to watch Joseph, one of Hollywood's most talented young actors. Joseph Castanon competed at the New York IMTA Convention in 2004 and signed with Martin Weiss Management and Abrams Artists Agency. Joseph played Adam Sandler's son in the hit film Click.

Jeremy James Kissner and Lauren Storm star in the finale of their hit Discovery Kids/NBC show Flight 29 Down. You can catch a sneak peek at the finale here. It airs Saturday night on Discovery Kids at 8pm ET with an encore presentation at 11pm ET. Please check your local listings to catch the finale of this beloved award-winning show .


Lauren Storm came to the New York 1999 IMTA Convention. Lauren describes her IMTA experience, saying, “I ended up getting a lot of response from theatrical agencies and was asked to relocate to LA for pilot season. I tried it out for 6 months and got my first job, so I stayed a little longer and booked again.” That was six years ago, and she’s been working steadily ever since.

Jeremy James Kissner, who plays Eric, competed at IMTA in 1995. Jeremy has been in numerous television guest appearances and feature film roles including AI: Artificial Intelligence, Great Expectations, Melrose Place and Touched by an Angel.