NorthWest RiverPartners Debuts "Man in the Stream" via Yonder
Directed by Brian Neaman of Yonder, the witty, locally-rooted campaign puts hydroelectricity in the spotlight

Member-driven association Northwest RiverPartners brings the benefits of hydroelectricity to life through a clever commercial campaign created by agency Baldwin& and produced by Yonder. Directed by Brian Neaman, the Northwest RiverPartners films adopt the “Man on the Street” format with an updated Man in the Stream. Full of local charm and cultural relevance, this campaign uses humor to share the vital services provided by our hydropower systems.

Nestled in the sweet spot between situational absurdity, dry humor, and naturalistic performances, an interviewer in a blazer and swim trunks takes his microphone mid-stream to speak to Northwest residents about how hydroelectricity affects their everyday lives. His interviewees include a farmer, a fish counter, and an ice cream shop owner whose humanity and candor bring a sense of levity and relatability to hydropower. From irrigation to environmental initiatives and simply keeping the lights on and the freezer running, our hydropower system is a vital component to many aspects of these people’s lives, and they are more than glad to wade into whatever (literal) waters they must to talk about these services.
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Northwest RiverPartners tapped Yonder as its full-service production partner, with the nimble content studio overseeing everything from pre-production through post. Director Brian Neaman also served as editor, streamlining the creative process and working closely with Baldwin& to craft a campaign that matched the client’s vision for broad appeal. Yonder’s creative agility brought cinematic polish and a clear narrative through-line, featuring a fully developed humor-meets-edutainment tone. With deep regional roots and a uniquely versatile skill set, the team was a natural fit for the hydropower provider’s storytelling needs.

“I loved shooting in the river,” says Yonder director and editor Brian Neaman. “Any excuse to wear Aquasocks? Count me in! In all seriousness, though: Hydropower is an affordable, reliable, and responsible choice for folks in the Pacific Northwest. People are often wary of environmental solutions because they assume nature and infrastructure are at odds. But Northwest RiverPartners works with the environment, — and I was more than happy to jump in the water with the team to make this vision a reality. All in all, this was a creatively rewarding project — and hopefully, it will inspire a few changed minds.”

“We are very excited about the creativity and vibe that the Yonder and Baldwin& teams brought to this campaign,” said NW RiverPartners executive director Clark Mather. “Bringing light-hearted fun to this conversation is a cool new way to share the tremendous value that our hydropower system brings to millions of people in the Pacific Northwest and across the country.”
Credits
Client: Northwest RiverPartners
Executive Director: Clark Mather
Deputy Executive Director: Austin Rohr
Agency: Baldwin&
Creative Director/Writer: Lori Jones
Sr. Art Director: Taylor Moser
Executive Producer: Cindy Wade
Group Account Director: Jennifer Hazelett
Group Creative Director: Emily Watson
Director of Design: Jen Matthews
Production Company: Yonder
Managing Director: Adam Bagger
Executive Producer: Mike Repasch-Nieves
Senior Producer: Matt Drumm
Director: Brian Neaman
Line Producer: Jacob Leander
Associate Producer: Kevin Brown
Production Supervisor: Anna Lee du Mas
Commercial Coordinator: Hank Groat
GRIP DEPARTMENT
Key Grip: Brian "Coach" Fleskes
BB Grip: Ryan Fritz
Grip: Joe Timko
ART DEPARTMENT
Props: Camille Carpenter
VANITIES
Wardrobe Stylist: Erin Toft
Hair/Makeup Artist: Ruthann Lentz
VTR/SOUND/SCRIPT
VTR: Jason Neuman
Sound Mixer: Jebari Dean
CAMERA DEPARTMENT
DP: Rob Hauer
1st AC: Jared Rogers
Media Manager: Sean Rawls
Grip: Joe Timko
TALENT
Man in the Stream: Noel Taylor
Fish Counter: Benji Patel
Ice Cream Shop Owner: Megumi Smith
Farmer: Logan Cannon
POST-PRODUCTION
Editor: Brian Neaman
Colorist: Matthew Schwab, Roving Pictures
Sound Design/Mix: Tristan Schmunk, Th3rd Sound