“Who says you're only young once?” — 17 Again Tagline

Anyone would think it was pretty cool to be cast in a feature film shortly after attending IMTA. Even cooler is to get two films. And when you film your third movie within a year of IMTA—and by the way, get to hang out on the set with one of the hottest young stars around—well, it’s obvious you’ve got something going on. Oh, and did you include a couple of co-starring roles on TV in the meantime? Such is the life of young IMTA alum Mario Cassem, who competed in New York 2007 along with his twin sister, Maria.

In 17 Again, which opens Friday and stars teen heart-throb Zac Efron, Cassem appears in the role of Samir, a character of middle-Eastern descent who is a chess-playing smart-aleck. The film follows Mike O’Donnell (Matthew Perry), a high-school basketball star with a bright future, which he gave up to marry his girlfriend and raise their child. But now, 20 years later, his marriage has failed, his kids think he’s a loser, and his job is going nowhere. He gets a chance to correct the mistakes of his past and change his life when he gets a chance to be 17 again.

Cassem will star in his first feature leading role inStacy’s Mom alongside fellow alum Logan Manus, who attended IMTA in 2003. The plot involves four early teenagers who fall in love with their friend’s mother, only to learn that she’s not only a little too old to be their romantic interest, but that she’s also way out of their league. IMTA alum Ambrosia Kelly, who attended in 2000 in Los Angeles, also appears in the film. No release date has been scheduled.

Upcoming for both Cassem and his sister Maria are appearances on the in-production Nickelodeon game show “Brainsurge.” They previously appeared together in the web series “The Timer Game.” In 2008, Cassem had a co-starring role opposite Christian Slater in the final episode of the short-lived TV action thriller “My Own Worst Enemy.” He also starred in an episode of the comedy “Mind of Mencia.”