Crossing the James RiverCrossing the James River
Best Topic-Specific Video
Category: Best Topic-Specific Video
Project Name: Crossing the James River
Company: Garney Construction
Garney Construction’s documentary-style film captures the extraordinary technical challenges, ingenuity, and teamwork behind a world record-setting horizontal directional drill (HDD) beneath the James River. Spanning 5,700 feet, this milestone project highlights the human effort and expertise required to achieve one of the most ambitious feats in Garney’s history.
Rather than relying on conventional voiceover-heavy formats, the film uses vérité-style footage to immerse viewers in the operation as it unfolded in real time. The narrative arc introduces tension and uncertainty, showcasing the problem-solving, coordination, and commitment of engineers, field crews, project managers, and partners. By filming the process in real time and granting full access to the people and work, the film brings visibility to an underwater infrastructure project rarely seen in the industry.
The primary audience includes Garney’s employee-owners, engineers, subcontractors, and stakeholders, who have a direct connection to the project. However, the film also appeals to industry professionals curious about large-scale technical feats and general viewers drawn to human-centered storytelling. The goal was twofold: to honor the people behind this achievement and elevate Garney’s reputation as a leading marine construction contractor.
Why they're award winning:
Human-centered storytelling: Focused on the people and teamwork behind the technical feat
Innovative format: Used a cinematic, documentary-style approach to immerse viewers in real-time action
Industry visibility: Brought attention to underwater infrastructure through transparent, emotionally engaging content