The 2010s era Nickelodeon series Victorious introduced us to Tori and Trina Vega, Robbie Shapiro, Beck Oliver and Cat Valentine among the students at the fictional Hollywood Arts high school. The show’s stars were a who’s who of the decade: including Victoria Justice, Daniella Monet, Avan Jogia and Ariana Grande.
Now, in 2026, we return to meet a new batch of stardom-seeking students and catch up with some returning characters in the Netflix series Hollywood Arts, which premieres on October 15. Daniella Monet reprises her role as Trina, an aspiring actor who still hasn’t gotten her big break. She takes a job as a substitute teacher and returns to her alma mater to becomes an unexpected mentor to a whole new generation of performing arts students.
Among these students is Oscar, played by Martin Kamm. For Martin, joining the world of Hollywood Arts is a little more surreal than your average television debut. The Oklahoma-born actor grew up watching Victorious as a homeschooled kid, even sneaking over to a friend’s house to catch the series because he didn’t have cable. Now, years later, he’s stepping into that same universe as Oscar, one of the new generation of performing arts students at Hollywood Arts. For Martin, it’s a full-circle moment that feels especially meaningful because of how much he saw himself in the original series’ young artists.
Hollywood Arts is only part of Martins’s big moment. Just one day after the series premieres on October 15, he’ll release his debut EP, Listen to the Radio, giving fans a chance to discover the singer-songwriter behind the actor. For him, the two sides of his artistry are closely connected, with both acting and songwriting demanding vulnerability and emotional honesty.
In our conversation, Martin talks about his surreal journey from Victorious superfan to Hollywood Arts star, finding the comedy in Oscar’s enormous ego, working with Daniella Monet, channeling vulnerability into both acting and music, and what it means to have two major career milestones arrive almost simultaneously. We also put him in the hot seat for the Socialite Seven. Get to know this multi-talented performer.
Congratulations on Hollywood Arts. Take us back to the moment that you found out that you got the role and what was that experience like for you?
The process of this audition was over the course of four or five months. We had done the final chemistry read and then I think a month and a half went by and then I get a call from my agent saying, “Hey, they want to meet with you one more time for an improv callback.” I said, “Oh, boy. Okay that’s exciting. Let’s do this.”
The next day my team calls me saying, “Hey, FaceTime us and put us right there in the corner of your room, record this, and also have your mom there.” So, I’m like, “This is getting suspicious.” But of course, I’m so nervous, I don’t want to screw it up. I jump on the call, and Daniella Monet is there. She asked, “All right, you ready for this exercise?” and I said, “Absolutely.” She then went on to say, “Because we might be doing this for days, weeks, months even.” I said, “Oh, I was born ready.” and she said, “I can’t wait to work with you. Congratulations.” I was speechless for five minutes. That was the craziest thing. I grew up with Victorious. I love the show, and the fact that I’m being in the next chapter is just crazy to me. I’m pinching myself every day with how blessed I am. It was really exciting.
What was it about Oscar that immediately connected with you when you first read the character?
He’s a big theater nerd and I am a theater nerd, so that was something I gravitated towards immediately. He’s very confident and he’s very ambitious, and he works hard. He’s the popular kid at school but at the end of the day he’s kind of a goofball. Whether he’d like to admit it or not, he’s still a goofball, and that’s kind of what I am, and he’s a super fun character to play.
Oscar is convinced that he’s the most talented and handsome student at Hollywood Arts. What was your first impression of him?
Really that he takes himself so seriously but, at the end of the day, he’s just a big, silly goose. My favorite thing about his character is that everything he does, he commits to 110%, especially when it comes to acting. He’s definitely a method actor, so one of the fun things I get to do in the show is not only do I get to play Oscar, but I got to play Oscar playing another character, to the detriment of everyone else around him. That was a lot of fun. It was honestly a cool acting exercise.
As you mentioned there’s a lot of comedy in Oscar taking himself so seriously. How do you find a balance between playing that confidence sincerely and letting the audience in on the joke?
The thing about Oscar is that he doesn’t have to make anybody believe that he’s the greatest. He just believes it. He is absolutely certain, like you need oxygen to breathe, that he’s that great. It creates a funny dynamic between people – especially his sister. She just kind of looks at him like, “You’re nutso.” And even though he feels like, “I’m absolutely wonderful. What are you talking about?” that creates some funny dynamics with his sister, who’s kind of turning into this rising star. So, there’s this funny dynamic between Oscar and his sister, Emmy.
How much of Martin is in Oscar, and how much of Oscar is absolutely not you?
I think he has a very fragile ego, so he’s very emotional, and I am also a very emotional being. So that’s something that I can definitely relate to. His confidence is something I honestly strive to have. I am not that confident of a person. He just walks into a room and he just owns it, and that’s honestly something I saw in his character that I was like, oh, I’m going to take some of that and put it in my own life because confidence is a choice. He definitely makes that choice every single day, and I strive to do that as well.
What does it mean for you to join a show that already has such a passionate fan base? Like you said, you’re a fan yourself. What is it like for you to be in the Victorious universe now?
It’s probably one of the greatest blessings of my life. It is super exciting to be part of this. I grew up in Oklahoma and I was homeschooled. And, when the show came out, I didn’t have cable, so I’d sneak out to my friend’s house to watch it. The one unique thing about Victorious is that it represented artists, especially teenagers who were artists, and living in Oklahoma – where there’s a bit more focus on sports – I got to see myself in these characters who were acting and being goofy and being ventriloquists and singing and dancing and stuff that I took enjoyment from and it means, honestly, the world to me to be a part of this and continue that tradition.
Was there any pressure that came with knowing that audiences would be coming to Hollywood Arts with a lot of love for the original series?
There are just big shoes to fill. And honestly, with how the show is, it’s like an extension of Victorious, so it’s still got the core and the heart, but it’s something new for this new generation. You’ve got your old stuff for the old generation in the show, but you also have new things that the new generation can look into and relate to and have fun with.
How did the cast and creators approach honoring what the fans loved about Victorious while making this feel like its own show for a new generation?
I think, in my opinion, it’s how they wrote the character of Trina. Trina Vega is coming back to Hollywood Arts, but instead of a student she’s now a teacher, and passing on this kind of older knowledge to the new generation. I think it’s almost in a sense passing the torch and expanding on this incredible world.
Besides Trina, do you have a favorite character or episode from the original series?
I definitely have a favorite character, and that is Robbie Shapiro (played by Matt Bennett), mainly because when I was watching the show at the time I related with him so much because he was goofy. I was a very goofy child, so I was like, oh, this guy’s just like me. So yeah, I’d definitely say Robbie Shapiro.
If you could have Oscar meet one character from the original series, who would you put him in a scene with and why?
Oh, that’s great. Honestly, I want him to meet Beck (played by Avan Jogia) mainly because, especially online, people compare Oscar to Beck because he’s kind of got that same look. But just put them in the same room together to see that they’re not the same. They may have a similar look, but they are not the same. Oscar is very energetic and bombastic and emotional, and Beck’s very chill, very laid back. I see Oscar as more of a Trina-like character, just a little bit full of himself but has all this kind of bombastic energy.
Speaking of Trina, this time she’s on the other side of the classroom. What was it like working with someone who already knows the world so well?
Oh, talk about a wonderful resource. Daniella Monet is the easiest person to work with, hands down. She was a great mentor that we got to have on set because a lot of us were stepping into multi-cam for the first time. This was my first multi-cam show. I’ve never done anything like this, and she helped us ease into it and get used to that kind of medium. The one thing that’s really cool about Daniella is that in the show, not only is she acting in it, she’s also an executive producer, so she gets to wear multiple hats – and her ability to switch between those roles was really inspiring. And talk about switching, her switching from Trina Vega to Daniella Monet is incredible to witness, because who Trina is and who Daniella is – it’s like night and day. Daniella’s very put together. She exercises. She’s very well-spoken, all these things. She’s not that energetic and wild like Trina Vega is, so that was really cool witnessing that.
Switching gears, you’re not only an actor, but you’re also a singer-songwriter and musician. How does having that musical background influence the way that you approached acting?
When I write my music, I try to be as vulnerable as I can. A lot of the people that inspire me are like Noah Kahan. A lot of his lyrics are very raw and very exposed and, when it comes to songwriting, you have to put yourself in a very vulnerable position in order to communicate something that you want to say. The same thing gets applied to acting as well. When you’re acting, especially if it’s an emotional scene, you have to be vulnerable, and those feelings have to come from a true place. I feel like my music and my songwriting have really influenced my acting as well.
Hollywood Arts is built around young performers. Did your own experience in theater and music give you a particular connection to the world of the show?
Absolutely. The cool thing is I did a lot of musical theater in high school, and the cool thing about working on a multi-cam show is that it’s very stage-like. You’ve got to be memorized; you’ve got to be ready to go because all those cameras are going at the exact same time. We’re not moving in to get different shots. We’re getting the whole scene and keeping the energy up and needing to do it over and over again. That really helped prepare me for this role that I didn’t know I needed.
You’re releasing your debut EP, Listen to the Radio, on October 16th – just a day after the series premiere. What does it feel to have these two major milestones occurring almost simultaneously?
I just feel grateful that I get to have this opportunity to have this show that’s absolutely wonderful, that’s been one of the greatest experiences of my life, but also have a moment to express myself. People are going to watch the show, they’re going to see Oscar, and I hope they love him and I also, if they’re like, “Hey, who’s this Martin kid?”, I’ll have something of my own to show people.
In my art, I love sharing experiences. One of the songs on the EP is called “Cheap Coffee.” I literally wrote it while I was on a road trip. I was in my hotel room, and they have those little coffee machines in there. I poured myself a cup of coffee. I took one sip and I was like, “Man, this is really cheap coffee. Hey, that’s a really great name for a song.” And so, I wrote it down and wrote my experience of going on this great road trip.
Besides that song, is there another song on the EP that feels particularly personal to you, or one that can give listeners the clearest sense of who you really are outside of Oscar?
Yes. The song “Brave.” I wrote it at a time where I was not feeling brave. I was very lost. I was very confused. I didn’t really know what I wanted to do with my life, and honestly, it kind of doesn’t feel like I wrote it. It felt like someone else wrote it for me to be like, “Hey, it’s going to be okay. Just keep going. It’s time to be brave. It’s all going to work out. Pain doesn’t last forever, and you’re going to be okay.” I hope that when people listen to that song, they kind of grab that nugget as well and I hope it helps encourage them in their own lives.
Do you see acting and songwriting as two separate creative outlets, or do they feed into each other?
I think they definitely feed into each other. Again, like I said before, there’s a level of rawness you need for both. Even with music, you can sound pretty, but at the end of the day what are you trying to say? With art, you’re always trying to communicate something – whether that’s an emotional scene in acting or it’s an emotional song in music, there’s a lot of overlap. In fact, music really inspires me because when I listen to music, I think of a music video, or I’m already thinking of a scene that would work with this. I’m always thinking of both at the same time.
Since all of this is happening to you at once, the debut EP and the series, how are you processing this chapter of your life?
I’m just grateful. I’m grateful to be in this part of my life. I was very lucky to be surrounded by incredible people. My family has been supportive since day one. I’m incredibly blessed. I know a lot of people don’t have that, so I’m very lucky and blessed. I’ve got friends who will, keep me in check if I need it, and stepping into this, they’ve been very encouraging. It is incredibly exciting. A lot of times I’m just like, “Man, I don’t know what to do with myself. All of this is happening at once. This is great.” They’re always there to be like, “Hey, it’s all good. This is going to be so much fun.” I’m excited for people to listen. I’m excited for people to see the show.
What has Hollywood Arts taught you about yourself as a performer that you didn’t know before you started filming?
That no matter the challenge, I will always rise to the occasion, no matter what. Whether I try it and fail or try it and succeed, I’m always going to try, because I always like to push myself. I really realized that on this show, there’s lots of dancing, lots of singing, lots of everything at once, and I rose to the occasion. My castmates also pushed me to want to try harder because these people are just phenomenally talented. It’s insane. I’d be looking around and was like, “Man, I’m just lucky to be here. This is crazy.”
You’ve already worked across theater, television, music and film. Is there a particular direction that you’re especially excited to explore next?
I’m still wanting to push more towards acting. But, with the release of the EP, I’ve been writing a lot more music. I’m going to go wherever the wind takes me. I love having new experiences and growing myself as an artist, so I’m just hoping doors will open. I’ll just keep working and keep growing and keep making art.
Is there any kind of dream role or project that’s sitting somewhere on your bucket list?
They’re redoing the Narnia series. I would love to be Prince Caspian. I think that would be awesome. I love fantasy. I love those books. The Lord of the Rings are some of my favorite books and movies of all time, so something fantasy-like. I’ve got the long hair, just give me a sword. I’m ready.
Martin Kamm Answers the Socialite Seven
Oscar thinks he’s the most talented person at Hollywood Arts. What does Martin think he’s the most talented at?
I don’t really know. But if I was forced to pick something, I’d probably say singing. But at the end of the day, I just I’m more interested in other people’s skills than my own because I always I get nuggets from them. My castmates really pushed me, so it was really cool. We have some of the best singers on this cast. It’s insane – and that level of dancing helped me grow. I don’t think I’m the most talented at anything. I’m just happy to continue to learn.
If Oscar had to write a song about himself, what would the title be?
Oh my gosh, I love that. What would the title be? “My Hair,” and it would be a love song to his hair.
What would Oscar’s dating app bio say?
“Don’t be distracted by the good looks. I have a heart of gold as well.” That sounds very Oscar, and I only know him a little bit.
If you had the chance to convince someone to watch Hollywood Arts using only three words, what three words would you use?
Fun, exciting, heartfelt.
What is the one song you could sing at karaoke with absolutely no preparation?
Ooh…the song “Sway,” specifically the Michael Bublé version.
If you could steal one skill from another member of the Hollywood Arts cast, what would it be?
If I could steal one skill, it would be the character Pepper’s skill of playing cello. That would be awesome. I would love to play the cello.
What is something that people might be surprised to learn about you that has nothing to do with acting or music?
I’m a big nerd. I love video games and books, especially when it comes to fantasy. One of my favorite games is Baldur’s Gate 3. It’s a Dungeons & Dragons type game. I love Dungeons & Dragons. I had a group of guys I met with almost every Tuesday before I booked Hollywood Arts. We’d meet every Tuesday and play Dungeons & Dragons. It was so much fun.
What is the best piece of advice you’ve been given?
I’ve said this quite a bit, and it really pertains to pursuing the arts. If you can imagine yourself doing anything else, do that instead. It’s a hard business. There are definitely a lot of challenges in this industry, and one thing I found for myself is that I did that. I took the advice and was like, “Can I imagine myself doing anything else? No.” And so if you come to that conclusion, that you can’t imagine yourself doing anything else, just do it. Make art. Pursue it. Give it your all. Go 110%. It might not be what you expect, but you’re going to get something out of it that’s going to really enrich your soul.
