In keeping with its long-standing association with the world of film, Rolex is a Founding Supporter of the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, inaugurated last September.
Located on Los Angeles' Miracle Mile, it is the first and largest institution in the United States, devoted to the history, science and cultural influences of filmmaking.
The museum is immediately recognisable by its glass dome, designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Renzo Piano, who also fully renovated the 28,000m² building. Its 4,500m² of gallery space allows for temporary and permanent exhibitions, two film theatres including the 1,000-seat David Geffen Theater, an educational studio and areas for public events and ceremonies.
By shining a light on the past, present and future of film, the museum plunges visitors into the unique world of cinema, through original exhibitions, screenings, educational programmes and exceptional collections.
A vast selection of objects relating to film production and technology illustrate the international and complex stories of moviemakers and the works they create. The hundreds of displayed objects include the shark from Jaws, the toys from Toy Story, and items evoking directors from Alfred Hitchcock to George Lucas, not to mention a Rolex Cosmograph Daytona, owned by actor and motor racing enthusiast Paul Newman.
On the 3rd floor, the modular exhibitions inside the Rolex Gallery are designed as singular journeys through different moments in film history. Visitors are plunged into the works and world of directors from around the globe.
Installations in the "Stories Of Cinema" core exhibition reveal the many aspects of moviemaking -- technology, artists, history and social impact -- through diverse voices that convey the magic of the big screen. In "Inventing Worlds And Characters", visitors learn how artists and technicians develop elements that go into creating a film, from the initial idea to the final production.