Just a few years ago, Chase Infiniti was sitting in Columbia classrooms. Now, she’s part of an Oscar-winning film, and students say her rise makes their own goals feel more attainable.

Infiniti, who graduated in 2022 with a BFA in musical theatre, appeared in “One Battle After Another,” which won Best Picture at the Academy Awards. In the film, she stars alongside actors such as Leonardo DiCaprio, Teyana Taylor and Sean Penn. 

In the film, directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, Infiniti plays Willa Ferguson, the spirited and resilient teenage daughter of a former revolutionary, portrayed by DiCaprio. Her character is kidnapped by a vengeful military leader played by Penn. The film was Infiniti’s feature film debut.

Her rapid rise from college classrooms to a major Hollywood production is now resonating with students, many of whom say her success makes a career in the industry feel more attainable.

First-year film and television major Merrill Amos said he was initially unaware that Infiniti attended the college, despite having already seen the film.

That realization, he said, changed how he viewed both the school and his own path. Seeing someone from Columbia reach that level made the industry feel less distant and more connected to his own experience.

“When I found out, it actually gave me motivation,” Amos said. “It made me feel really good about my choice of choosing Columbia and just showing that a lot of people from our school are getting recognition in the industry.”

In an interview with the college last fall, Infiniti credited her time at Columbia for helping her grow into her craft.

“I really started to find my footing and started to find my voice within acting,” Infiniti said. “The biggest disservice you can do to yourself is go into an audition expecting a result.”

Amos said that seeing representation from someone who shared a similar educational path makes success feel more tangible.

“It makes it feel more attainable,” he said. “It shows that the path that I’m on can lead me somewhere big if I stay consistent.”

Junior acting major Oliver Lujano said Infiniti’s success changed how he views both the program and his future in the industry.

“I was a bit shocked,” Lujano said. “I didn’t think Columbia could be the type of place that sets you up for that level of success, but seeing someone who was just in the same program achieve that gave me a lot of hope.”

Lujano said the moment helped ease his uncertainty about pursuing acting after college.

“It makes me less worried about my future,” he said. “Seeing someone who was in my position succeed reminds me to keep working hard and not give up on myself.”

Other students shared similar reactions, describing the moment as both surreal and inspiring.

“It was really, really cool to see someone from our school up on that stage,” Lane Dehnel said, a junior acting major who’s taking Improvisation Essentials this year. “It was honestly surreal because you don’t always make the connection between being successful and just being in a classroom.”

Dehnel said moments like this help bridge that gap for students. Seeing a familiar name on a national stage makes the idea of success feel closer and more realistic.

Dehnel emphasized how recently Infiniti attended Columbia, making the achievement feel even closer to home.

“Knowing that she was just in these classrooms not so many years ago, it’s really inspiring,” they said.

They added that it reinforces the idea that students at Columbia are actively building toward careers in the industry. For many, Infiniti’s journey represents what can happen after graduation.

For students pursuing careers in the industry, Infiniti’s success highlights the possibilities that can come from their own paths at Columbia.

Amos said seeing someone reach that level pushes him to take his work more seriously.

“Now I can clearly see what’s possible,” he said.

Sophomore acting major Larenz Davis said the win was also meaningful on a personal level.

“I’m proud of anybody that wins an award,” Davis said during a break in Improvisation Essentials. “But especially people who look like me or present like me, I’m proud to see them succeed.”

Additional reporting by Marc Balbarin

Copy edited by Katie Peters