Joe Rivadeneira got his start assisting the casting department at ABC television working on some of the most memorable dramas & comedies of the aughts such as Modern Family and Revenge. Soon, he felt a desire to bridge his two worlds. “I met some great people and worked for some great executives at the time, but I realized that I could have a little bit more creative freedom in the unscripted space,” Joe says. “I also had a background in the world of hip hop dance and formed many relationships in that space. Movement was a real passion of mine, and I wanted to be able to create television shows with my friends that were in that world, even though I was leaving that space and going into development and producing. I love to meet people. I love to really dig in on people’s stories, so I started to think about how to craft stories and narratives around people in a real and authentic way.”
Unscripted offers a sort of instant gratification…at least by industry standards. “In a perfect scenario, I could pitch a show in January, have it greenlit a few months later, get into production by summer and have it delivered by the end of the year, so it’s airing, from sale to production, in a year tops. That would never happen in a scripted capacity. You have a lot of runway to develop ideas that you’re passionate about and feel could work in the marketplace.”
Joe led the premium unscripted slate at Vox Media Studios and Group Nine Studios, forging strategic creative partnerships with Netflix, Hulu, Discovery+, HBO Max, Food Network, and others. Prior to that, he directed premium unscripted development at mitú, where he successfully sold original series to Paramount, Netflix, Verizon Go90, Spotify, and Facebook Watch.
Now, Joe oversees one of the biggest international production players in the unscripted arena. He currently serves as Senior Vice President of development & production at Beyond Productions, where he oversees a diverse slate of projects for leading partners including Amazon, NBCUniversal, HGTV, and Hulu. The US arm of Beyond Productions produces everything from the HGTV staple My Lottery Dream Home to Love Undercover for Peacock among others. However, things are far from a cakewalk. “To give you just a taste of what the unscripted landscape is like, it’s still harder than ever to sell a show. The days of walking into a network and selling a concept in the room are long gone. Although, I did just that recently on a big network pitch that I’m very excited about! More on that later but back to reality… there’s usually some type of step that the network is paying very little money for in order to see some type of development materials be drawn up in order to really flesh out an idea.”
Recognition is the name of the game. “With celebrity-driven content, we think about how we can leverage that name and face that people are familiar with in order to get more subscribers and get more eyeballs. We also are pitching really big formats, most of them IP driven. You have your big celebrity based concepts. Sometimes those are big formats, sometimes those are more docuseries driven. And then you have low cost, high volume concepts. It’s your House Hunters, Snapped, Deadly Women, etc. Those are the three buckets of unscripted content being greenlit right now.”
Joe knows the importance of cultivating lasting bonds for success. “Cherish your relationships and be good to people. That doesn’t apply to just unscripted – that applies to life. I’ve been in this business for close to 20 years and people that I dealt with 20 years ago when I was an assistant are people that are now pitching me projects. I’ve hired people at Beyond to consult for me that I was working for back in the day, so it’s really crucial to treat everybody with respect, with kindness, and with love.”
His work reflects a strong creative vision, deep industry relationships, and a commitment to producing impactful content that resonates with diverse audiences worldwide. He perpetually stays on the lookout for the next entertainment home run. “Beyond is open for business. We love to hear ideas. We love to partner with people and partner with great talent, great producers, showrunners, directors, etc. In addition to that, I think that the unscripted business has taken a turn. I’m really optimistic about where things are headed and I feel really good about the industry. And so for me, I’m just excited to be in this business.” The horizon is sunny and inviting!
The two things that keep Joe going strong when the industry is slow: his family and his faith. For Joe, everything begins and ends with those two pillars. “My family is my heart, and my faith is my foundation,” he shares. “They keep me centered, especially in an industry where things are constantly shifting.”
A firm believer that God is guiding every step of his journey, Joe doesn’t take a single day for granted. “I start each day in prayer and gratitude,” he says. “I thank God for what He’s given me and what He’s entrusted me with. Whether it’s creative work, family life, or just how I show up for people, I try to walk in the awareness that I’m not doing it alone. God is steering the ship and I’m reminded to always lead with love.”
One of the ways Joe stays spiritually grounded is through a weekly men’s group he’s been part of for years. “It’s a space for honesty, prayer, and accountability,” he explains. “We show up for each other, talk about real-life stuff like fatherhood, work, faith and we push each other to grow into the men God created us to be. That brotherhood means everything to me.”
At the center of Joe’s world is his wife, Lauren. Together for more than 20 years, their relationship is built on a foundation of deep love, unwavering resilience, and a shared faith that continues to shape their journey. Together, they’re raising three incredible kids—Gavyn (14), Rylan (12), and Jade (7)—who, as Joe puts it, “are phenomenal human beings and keep us on our toes every single day.”
The family lives in Southern California, where their days are filled with the beautiful chaos of parenting, school runs, creative pursuits, and finding moments of peace in the in-between. “It’s loud, it’s busy, it’s imperfect and I wouldn’t trade it for anything,” Joe says with a smile.
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From Concept to Culture: Joe Rivadeneira Powers Beyond Productions. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Joe Rivadeneira.
