Private Project

Graniterock's Green Journey

Graniterock isn’t your typical environmentalist.
Our 122-year-old mining and construction company is energy intensive, to say the least.
We operate the largest aggregate quarry west of the Mississippi, producing rock and sand for building California’s infrastructure with many crushers, conveyor belts, filters and heavy equipment to move, crush and stockpile the rock.
We operate a dozen asphalt and concrete production facilities located throughout the San Francisco Bay Area that also rely on heavy equipment and massive energy consumption.
In addition, Graniterock’s Construction Division is a power user of large heavy machinery and diesel-fueled trucks for building roads and bridges throughout the region.
However, in recent years we have started to evaluate more closely how we use energy and invest in alternative sources.
This shift in thinking has started Graniterock down a “green journey,” a road that will help make Graniterock a sustainable business for the next generation.
Graniterock’s green journey, which is documented in this film, tells the story of how one of California’s oldest and largest construction companies is starting to use solar energy to power more than half of its quarry operations, invest in energy storage with a Tesla battery, convert the company’s headquarters to a nearly net-zero building, use industrial byproducts – slag and fly ash – in the production of concrete, produce asphalt with old tires as a main ingredient and recycle the asphalt roads we drive on to make new asphalt.
There is a major shift happening in making the construction industry a sustainable, environmentally friendly industry, and Graniterock is leading the way.
This is just the beginning of our green story.

  • Robert Craig Ellenwood
    Director
    Baja 3000, Funeral March of a Marionette - Music Video
  • Robert Craig Ellenwood
    Writer
    Baja 3000, Funeral March of a Marionette - Music Video
  • Keith Severson
    Writer
  • Shanna Crigger
    Writer
  • Janae Thomas
    Writer
  • Robert Craig Ellenwood
    Producer
    Baja 3000, Funeral March of a Marionette - Music Video
  • Keith Severson
    Producer
  • Shanna Crigger
    Producer
  • Robert Craig Ellenwood
    Director of Photography
    Baja 3000, Funeral March of a Marionette - Music Video
  • Robert Craig Ellenwood
    Editor
    Baja 3000, Funeral March of a Marionette - Music Video
  • Janae Thomas
    Editor
  • Robert Craig Ellenwood
    Composer
    Baja 3000, Funeral March of a Marionette - Music Video
  • Rose Ann Woolpert
    Key Cast
    "Company Owner"
  • Jon Erskine
    Key Cast
    "Sr. Scientist"
  • Aaron Johnston
    Key Cast
    "V.P. of Environmental"
  • Rachel Reed
    Key Cast
    "Bio Resource Manager"
  • Rich Sacher
    Key Cast
    "V.P. Const. Materials"
  • Geoffrey Arnold
    Key Cast
    "Tesla Vendor"
  • Katha Redmon
    Key Cast
    "Dir. of Concrete"
  • Stuart Mager
    Key Cast
    "Road Mat. Bus Manager"
  • Dennis McElroy
    Key Cast
    "CIR Manager"
  • Peter Lemon
    Key Cast
    "Quarry Op's Manager"
  • Mark Kaminski
    Key Cast
    "Chairman of the Board"
  • Leslie Austin
    Key Cast
    "APAL Member"
  • Seth Capron
    Key Cast
    "APAL Member"
  • Spencer Wright
    Key Cast
    "Cont. P.M."
  • Nick Pereira
    Key Cast
    "Carpenter"
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Runtime:
    26 minutes 57 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    January 3, 2022
  • Production Budget:
    5,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Bridge Fest - Winner
    Vancouver, BC
    Canada
    March 11, 2022
    BEST ENVIRONMENTALIST SHORT FILM
  • Accolade Global Film Competition - Winner
    La Jolla, CA
    United States
    March 18, 2022
    Award of Merit Special Mention: Nature / Environment / Wildlife
  • Nature Without Borders International Film Festival - Winner
    Nassau, DE
    United States
    July 16, 2022
    Award of Excellence
  • Telly Award - Winner
    Global
    United States
    May 24, 2022
    Bronze Winner - Sustainability
  • Paris Film Awards - Selected
    Paris
    France
    May 27, 2022
    Selected
  • Cinematic European Film Festival - Selected
    Bania
    Nepal
    October 30, 2022
    Selected
  • Bozeman International Film Festival - Selected
    Bozeman
    United States
    January 27, 2023
  • Golden Gate International Film Festival - Selected
    San Jose
    United States
    November 4, 2022
  • Communicator Award - Winner
    Ashland
    United States
    May 7, 2024
    Award of Excellence
Director Biography - Robert Craig Ellenwood

My journey into the world of filmmaking was ignited in 1982 when I had the extraordinary opportunity to step into the realm of cinema as an extra in the action-packed thriller "Sudden Impact," sharing the screen with the iconic Clint Eastwood. Witnessing the intricate craft of a major motion picture production left an indelible mark on my creative spirit. Shortly thereafter, I was offered a speaking role in a sci-fi film helmed by the visionary director Brett Leonard. Although our paths diverged after that project, Brett and I have maintained a lasting connection through the years.

In 1984, my personal voyage as a filmmaker set sail. My initial forays into this world began with the creation of surf films, beautifully captured along the sun-kissed shores of Santa Cruz and the rugged coastline of Northern California, employing a Sony Super-8 camera as my artistic vessel. As time unfolded, I continually upgraded my equipment, embarking on a journey that evolved into the chronicling of global adventure travel.

The zenith of my early endeavors arrived in the form of "Baja 3000," a film that resonated with audiences and garnered the prestigious People's Choice award at the 2009 Monterey Independent Film Festival. In 2011, I ventured into the realm of regional broadcast commercials, crafting my first compelling promotional piece for a local winter sports event.

2014 marked a significant milestone in my career when I was honored with a Telly Award for my role as a Director of Photography in the music video "Funeral March of a Marionette." To date, I have successfully directed, shot, and edited over 50 diverse projects, as well as provided invaluable support for 18 live events. In 2022, I reached new pinnacles in my journey as my film "Graniterock's Green Journey" was introduced to the festival circuit, securing multiple prestigious awards, including my second Telly and the coveted 2023 Davey Award.

I approach each new chapter of my filmmaking odyssey with profound gratitude for the experiences and growth it has afforded me thus far. The path ahead holds the promise of continued exploration, creativity, and development in this captivating realm of storytelling and visual artistry.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

As the director of "Graniterock's Green Journey," I am excited to present our compelling narrative to film festivals. In 2021, our dedicated team was deeply engrossed in various projects for Graniterock, encompassing content creation for their social media presence and internal corporate gatherings. It was during the course of capturing footage at the construction site of the innovative 5-megawatt solar farm that we experienced a profound epiphany. An epiphany that brought all the ongoing green endeavors into sharp focus within our editing suite, compelling us to recognize that this was a story that demanded to be shared.

Our enthusiasm was boundless as we embarked on the endeavor of aggregating and presenting these multifaceted green initiatives, showcasing how a 123 plus-year-old hard rock quarry in California was blazing a trail towards sustainability. This is the captivating journey we invite you to witness and engage with.