Actor with ties to Genesse Depot nominated for Best Actor Oscar

GENESSE DEPOT, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Hollywood’s biggest award show is on Sunday and this year, an actor with local ties could walk away with one of the coveted Acadamy Awards. 

"Rustin" star Colman Domingo found his footing in the industry thanks to a locally based acting program.

Movies allow us to step into another world.

“It’s not just escapism, but it’s also showing many different ways of dealing with reality and then outside of reality," said Randy Bryant, the CEO of Ten Chimneys and Theatre Foundation.

To get there, sometimes actors have to step out of their comfort zones.

"It’s a tough business. and there’s a lot of rejections, there’s a lot of no's," said Bryant. 

At Ten Chimneys in Genesee Depot, Bryant makes sure a select few get the opportunity to learn from some of the biggest names in Hollywood. The estate belonged to theatre legends Alfred Lunt and Lynne Fontanne. 

"It goes back to Lynn and Alfred. They really believed in perfecting their craft," said Bryant.

Ten actors with at least 20 years of experience in the industry join a week-long program under the guidance of a mentor. One of the actors that was selected was Colman Domingo.

"He came to Ten Chimneys in 2012 as one of the Lunt-Fontanne fellows nominated out of San Francisco.”

Bryant says he remembers the first day Domingo walked through the doors.

"In seeing Colman, that he truly was gifted and that he was serious about his work. He would be going places," said Bryant.

On Sunday, the 54-year-old actor could walk away with an Oscar. He's nominated Best Actor in a Leading Role for his work as the titular role in the biographical drama "Rustin."

"All of us were just thrilled and saying yes and we knew that his work was worthy of that," said Bryant.

Bryant says no matter the outcome of the Oscars – Domingo’s love for his craft speaks for itself.

"It’s like the pinnacle, you know. As far as we’re concerned, he’s won," said Bryant.