A happily married father of two, shaken by a message written in a birthday card for his daughter, abruptly leaves his family for a week-long trek through the Grand Canyon. As we follow his solo hike, we see his memories of an earlier trip through the Grand Canyon with a different woman.
Shot with only the equipment that a cast and crew of eight could carry on two 41-mile hikes (one in 20-degree December and one in 95-degree June), GRANITE RAPIDS MOON is the first narrative feature to shoot the majority of its footage inside the Grand Canyon. The family-friendly romantic drama contains no nudity, sex, guns, violence, drugs, or strong profanity. Written and directed by Kenneth Cran, the film stars Brit Morgan (True Blood, Riverdale, Supergirl), John Charles Meyer (Mom, Vampire Diaries), Susan Papa, Etienne Eckert, Micah Cohen, KylieRae Condon, and Missi Pyle (Gone Girl, Galaxy Quest, Captain Fantastic).
The filmmakers are touring US theaters for single-night Q&A screenings throughout 2025, with the first 20+ screenings scheduled in CA, DC, VA, FL, ME, VT, and MI. Ten percent of the film’s profits will be donated to Grand Canyon Conservancy, Leave No Trace, and Plastic Free Restaurants, and a portion of ticket sales at specific events will also benefit select local non-profits (such as TREKKERS at the Strand screening).
Writer/director Cran says, “With Granite Rapids Moon, I hope some of the people who just make it to the rim and take a photo will see that the Grand Canyon is much more than a photo op; it’s a place of epic sublimity that has changed and shaped people and their stories.” Find more information about the film at GraniteRapidsMoon
Running time: 1h 33m
Post-screening Q&A with producer/actor John Charles Meyer, actor Etienne Eckert, and actor W.C. Meyer
A portion of ticket proceeds will benefit TREKKERS, a non-profit, outdoor-based mentoring program based in Knox County that cultivates the inherent strengths of young people through the power of long-term mentoring relationships. Learn More
