Every year, it is the illustrious Greenroom of the Dolby Theatre where presenters gather before going on stage to announce the latest Oscars®-winning actors and filmmakers. Accompanied by special guests of the Academy Awards®, the Greenroom is the place to be for the very best of their trade and, every year since 2016, Rolex has created its own unique and evocative design for it.
2020 saw Rolex bring another theme to the Greenroom in strong resonance with the watchmaker’s universe: polar exploration. As dedicated fans and owners of Rolex watches will know, the history of Rolex and exploration is linked to some of the greatest expeditions of the past century. Rolex Oyster Perpetual watches have accompanied explorers and adventurers to the highest peaks, the most remote caverns, the poles, and the deepest oceans — it was this underwater world that was reflected in the 2019 Greenroom theme. The iconic Explorer model was launched in 1953, following the first successful ascent of Mount Everest, while the was introduced in 1971.
”The design of this year’s Greenroom is a reminderof the beauty and fragility of the environment that Rolex is seeking to protect through our support of pioneering individuals and organizations finding solutions to safeguard the planet for future generations,” said Arnaud Boetsch, Rolex Director of Communication and Image.
As such, 2020’s Greenroom guests were invited to witness an icy scene, as if they are in the middle of the North Pole gazing at the stark, white landscape from a cozy, wood-panelled observatory. Decorated with warm-toned furnishings in contrast with the frosty white of the frigid outside setting, special lighting equipment gave a sense of sunlight and shadow playing on the area, as well as simulating sunrise and sunset and the passage of time.
A central element to the decor is the Rolex Explorer II, a watch that has been a vital component of extreme expeditions the world over. Meridian lines emanating from the watch draw the eye from the timepiece to the outside world, just how Rolex keeps on drawing people’s attention to those individuals and initiatives dedicated to making our planet perpetual.
Notably, in 2017, Rolex became Proud Sponsor of the Oscars®, giving official recognition to the brand’s long-standing connections to the world of cinema. It is Exclusive Watch of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and Founding Supporter of the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, which aims to preserve film history, a key interest of Rolex whose values include the importance of encouraging the transmission of knowledge from generation to generation.
Rolex also supports individuals who achieve the highest level in their field. Brand Testimonees in cinema are Kathryn Bigelow, James Cameron, Alejandro G. Iñárritu and Martin Scorsese whose films have collectively won 57 Academy Awards®.
An essential detail in countless movies and the irreplaceable timekeeper of many of modern cinema’s greatest, Rolex watches continue their historical ties with the art of motion picture.
