James Marsden stars as Florentine Ariosto Jones in the IWC movie, “Born of a Dream: A Man of the Future.”
This summer, we brought our readers an interview with legendary quarterback Tom Brady, conducted after he had finished filming a movie with IWC called “Born of a Dream: A Boy from San Mateo.” That movie was just one of three created to celebrate people who pursued their dreams in the face of adversity. Now, we have had the chance to interview American actor James Marsden, as well. Marsden played watchmaker Florentine Ariosto Jones — the founder of IWC — in the newest movie: “Born of a Dream: A Man of the Future.” There is also a third movie, wherein both Brady and Marsden star — showcasing vignettes of Tom Brady’s dream and Jones’s dream in parallel.
We will bring the complete interview with Marsden here shortly, and you can watch the Tom Brady film here. Meanwhile, to view the Marsden/Jones movie and the Tom Brady and James Marsden parallel movies, click here.
James Marsden’s Take On Watches
Interestingly enough, James Marsden is a modest watch collector, and says that every watch he owns has some special sentimental value or touches a particular chord with him. “I have had a difficult time getting rid of things throughout my life,” says Marsden. “I have watches in my collection that are $30 watches that I had when I was young, so for me it is not about the dollar amount of the watch, it is about the value of the watch to me personally.” Marsden admits he has a penchant for outstanding craftsmanship that started when he was younger with guitars. He plays the guitar (and sings). “I love the effort and passion that goes into making special instruments, and it is the same with watches. I love the purposes that watches serve. They are tools but they can be very elegant and beautiful, and the meticulous dedication that goes into expertly making something really special, I always want to celebrate that.”
Tom Brady’s Take on Time
Tom Brady, who also is a brand ambassador for IWC, says time has changed a lot for him over the years. “There were times when I was younger and had a lot more free or disposable time that I could focus my time and energy on things probably weren’t as relevant as the things I am doing today, and now I don’t feel like I have that much free time at all. I have to find the time to rebalance and refocus and make concerted efforts to do that because there are a lot of requests for my time. I am hyper-focused on taking care of my body because in the end, for my sport, my body is my asset, taking care of it is what my profession is, and the better I do that, the better career I’m going to have. It’s hard to balance time.”
The IWC Born of a Dream Tom Brady and James Marsden Movies
I have known of these movies for months — ever since IWC planned to launch the first movie done about Tom Brady’s life. I knew I would have the opportunity to interview both men, and, as such, I had the chance to preview the movies before they made their public debut. At first, I was skeptical, thinking this was just a marketing program to get the attention of watch lovers. Of course it is. Every watch brand has to reach its customers and potential customers. However, this film series is really impressive.
Each movie draws you in in a way you don’t expect. The Tom Brady movie is about his climb to success, true, but it is also about encouraging people to follow their dreams. The same is true with the James Marsden movie, where he plays F.A. Jones. While Jones built a legacy in IWC, he was eventually sent away from Schaffhausen and back to America by the investors. We don’t know much about how his personal story ended, but the story of the house that he built continues. The movie gives great insight into the challenges he faced and overcame. The parallel movie — the one that showcases vignettes from each man’s life — is an anomaly. Unexpected and sometimes jarring, it is an interesting take on two men who lived 100 years apart and yet accomplished their goals. I am intrigued to see what story the next professional IWC “Born of a Dream” movie will tell.
My Impressions of IWC Brand Ambassadors Tom Brady, James Marsden
As to the two men who starred in these films — both IWC brand ambassadors — I was duly impressed. It takes a lot to impress me, especially if you are a celebrity. I have interviewed hundreds of celebrities over my career as a journalist, and most people know that I am simply not star-struck. However, these two men each had a take on time and life — and even on the pandemic — that was humble and beautiful. Kudos to IWC.
