IMTA Countdown - Week Three

Model Tip of the Week

Get your hair in gorgeous condition! Find the products that work best on your hair and remember salon products may cost about the same as drugstore products because you can use so much less. Be sure to ask your Director before you make any significant changes to your hair such as a shorter style, or highlights. Your Director will want you to look like your photos and comp card so dramatic changes are not a good idea. The Agents at the IMTA Convention will want you to have healthy, beautiful, shiny hair.

For some hair style tips from Marie Claire, click here.

Runway/Fashion Print

Let's focus on Runway/Fashion Print. The way you walk is one of the most important factors in presenting yourself in the Runway Competition. Be sure to select shoes that you can walk in. It's good to show some personality -- and the judges love a great smile! As you practice and refine your walk, focus on moving smoothly and confidently. Wardrobe selection should not deter from your walk - choose an outfit you feel great in. Guys, make sure you walk naturally too. You may want to use creative imagery and envision yourself on the Runway at IMTA, walking beautifully with elegance and grace. Remember, your three fashion print shots will be projected onto screens and monitors just before you walk the T. Agents love seeing how you look in print as well as your potential on the runway.

To see some great examples of runway walks from the Fall 2011 Collections, click here and select your favorite designer's show.

Talent Tip of the Week

Have you ever noticed how your first impression lasts the longest? It's that way for the agents, managers and casting directors at IMTA too! So when you take the stage or the mic for your performance at IMTA, be in character and in the moment. In fact, as soon as you walk in the room, you may have attracted an agent's attention. Whether you are on stage, in the elevators or in a meeting room, be professional, friendly and upbeat. You never know when you'll be noticed!

Having a great stage presence has a lot to do with how prepared you are. Rehearse enough so that you feel comfortable with your lines but don't over rehearse. Smile; you're on!

Break a leg!

Competition Tip of the Week

Get ready for your TV Commercial Competitions. When performing your Commercial, remember that you are selling a product. Make your product sound like it's the best ever! Make your delivery fresh and stick to the script. Judges are looking for personality, projection and believability.

You can practice your commercial in front of a mirror. On your competition day, make sure you are not wearing distracting jewelry or hair clips. The judges will want to see your eyes so if you have long bangs, make sure they are off of your face. Wear a solid color shirt (stay away from white). Prints and striped materials usually don't show up as well on-camera.

The best part of an IMTA Commercial Competition? It may be about a product but you are really promoting yourself as a talent! IMTA alum Eva Longoria is pictured above performing her IMTA TV Commercial Competition.

Actor of the Week

Raini Rodriguez has been in numerous feature films and television series since attending IMTA in 2005. Raini's television projects include The Suite Life of Zack and Cody, Parker, I'm in the Band, and True Jackson, VP. Most recently, Raini starred in the Disney hit movie Prom! She is currently working on two new projects titled See If I Care and Austin & Ally.

Model of the Week

Zhanna competed at IMTA in 2003 and signed with IMG. Zhanna has appeared in tons of fashion magazines including Nylon, Teen Vogue and Jane. She has also modeled in many designer fashion shows including Genart, Daryl K and Michael Soheil.

In an exclusive IMTA interview with Zhanna, when asked about what she learned at IMTA that helped her in her career, Zhanna replied, "EVERYTHING, How to walk, how to pose, how to talk to clients, how to portray myself as a professional model and as a professional woman."

IMTA Hall of Fame

From the big screen to sitcoms to Broadway, Katie Holmes has done it all. She starred in numerous projects after competing at IMTA, such as Teaching Mrs. Tingle, Mad Money, Go, and the hit television show Dawson's Creek. She has also appeared on Saturday Night Live as a host.

Katie displayed her talent at IMTA in 1993 and 1995, where she caught the eye of many top agents and managers. She won Junior Talent of the Year, and it was at IMTA where she met her manager who helped her get to where she is today! Be sure to look for her next film, The Son of No One, Jack and Jill, and Responsible Adults, set for release in the upcoming year.

A complete list of Katie's work is listed here on IMDB.com.

Zhanna on Project Runway!

Check out these amazing shots of IMTA alum and top model Zhanna! Last week. at our yearly IMTA event in New York City, Zhanna shared with us that she is appearing on the new season of Project Runway! Zhanna shared some great information with us at IMTA when we last inteviewed her:

IMTA: Please describe your IMTA experience...

Zhanna: In one phrase, that actually is quoted to this day at every IMTA convention: "It's the place to go, to make your dreams come true in the industry...

IMTA: What are your best tips for success for someone who wants to be a model?

Zhanna: Do not lose focus of what is important, modeling is a tough job, never the less very rewarding. The travel, the social life, the perks can go to your head and you can lose focus of why you started to model in the first place, I can not even say how many models I have met through out my career that have been dropped by their agencies because of bad conduct and not doing their job. Stay healthy, eat healthy and always stay close to your family one way or the other, that always keeps your feet on the ground makes you want to do better as a model.

IMTA: What did you learn at IMTA that helps you in your career?

Zhanna: EVERYTHING, How to walk, how to pose, how to talk to clients, how to portray myself as a professional model and as a professional woman.

Supermodel Zhanna Featured in Sephora Cosmetics Campaign

Check out these stunning shots of Zhanna! She has booked a campaign for Sephora, the leading beauty retailer. Zhanna competed at IMTA in 2003. She is enjoying a very successful modeling career after being scouted and signed at IMTA. Zhanna returned to IMTA as a VIP guest speaker where she addressed the contestants saying,"Learn a lot about the modeling industry. This is the place to do it!"

Zhanna is a popular international model for IMG and has appeared in tons of fashion magazines including Nylon, Teen Vogue and Jane. She has also modeled in many designer fashion shows including Genart, Daryl K and Michael Soheil. Zhanna can also be seen in the April issue of Marie Claire France. Be sure to watch out for this beautiful model in her upcoming promotions for Sephora.

It's the One Year Anniversary of THAT IMTA BLOG!

Wow! It has been a year of exciting IMTA alumni projects already! We have had 365 days full of an amazing variety of projects that feature models, actors, singers and dancers who got their career started by competing at IMTA. The photo above of Jessica Biel was actually the very first photo featured on the blog. Thanks to all our loyal readers and visitors for your support! And now....the year in review!:

• Brandon Routh debuts as Superman, the first in the franchise in the awesome film, Superman Returns. Brandon competed at the New York, 1999 IMTA Convention.

• Eva Longoria is named Maxim magazine's #1 on the Hot 100 List. She also appeared on numerous magazine covers, is named L'Oreal and Bebe Sport's spokeswoman as well as debuting in her first feature film and continuing her much-beloved role as Gabrielle Solis in the world-wide smash hit series Desperate Housewives! Eva competed at Los Angeles, 1998 IMTA Convention where she received 38 callbacks from agents interested in representing her.

• Jessica Biel starred in one of 2006's most critically acclaimed films, The Illusionist. She also presented awards at The Academy Awards and The Emmy Awards. Jessica appeared on numerous magazine covers and was a guest on several talk shows. Jessica competed at IMTA in Los Angeles in 1994.

• Hayley Bennett made her feature film debut in the hit Music and Lyrics. She is recording material for her first album. Hayley also did a lot of publicity for the film, interviews and is one of the hottest up and coming actresses in Hollywood. Hayley competed at IMTA in 2001.

• Sean Harju, IMTA's 2006 1st Runner Up Male Model of the Year, is one of the hottest models on the fashion scene. He modeled in NINE shows during New York's fashion week as well as the very prestigious Calvin Klein's Milan show!

• Jerry Ferrara stars in his fourth season as the beloved Turtle on the HBO hit series Entourage. Jerry competed at IMTA in 2000.

• Jessica White was a featured model for Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue! She had a special shoot on location in Los Angeles with photographer Anne Menke. She was also chosen for a special feature "Models and Musicians" and was photographed with rock stars Gnarls Barkley. Jessica competed at IMTA in 1999.

• Ashton Kutcher and Josh Duhamel were named on People Magazine's Sexiest Man Alive list! Both of these handsome actors were alumni of the New York, New York 1997 IMTA Convention.

• Supermodel Zhanna appeared in tons of magazine and advertising layouts. She is represented by IMG Models.
  

These are just a few of the highlights from the past year. We look forward to the next year on That IMTA Blog where we will bring you the latest news about IMTA alumni models and actors!