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A Programmer and Developer with a focus on creative teamwork at every stage of content production. I've worked across diverse media including traditional television, social and premium digital platforms, and live events. My recent experience encompasses working in gaming, animation, comedy, topical/news, podcasts, and lifestyle verticals.
Part of Joel's LinkedIn Summary

Joel Benjamin Rubin (born September 23, 1981) is an American channel programming director, producer, actor, screenwriter, production assistant as well as a programmer and developer based in Los Angeles primarily focusing on creative teamwork at every stage of content production. Having worked across diverse media including traditional television, social and premium digital platforms, and live events, Joel's experience encompasses working in gaming, animation, comedy, topical/news, podcasts, and lifestyle verticals. Some accomplishments over his career include founding and popularizing multiple major digital brands, revitalizing existing shows and programming slates, and creating multiplatform shows, videos and content/series for a diverse range of audiences.

He is known for formerly working as the Senior Channel Director of Programming at Discovery Digital Networks Los Angeles (SourceFed and SourceFedNERD), Rooster Teeth Productions (Funhaus, The Know) and Machinima, Inc. (Inside Gaming, ETC) in addition to formerly working on the Disney XD Channel as a screenwriter and story editor. He was recently laid off from his position of Executive Programming Director at Machinima, which shut down in January 2019. As of May 2019, Joel works full-time as the VP of Programming (Consultant) at UNINTERRUPTED in Los Angeles. In July 2022, he announced that he would be the Executive VP of Programming and Content at SMOSH.

Joel married his partner, Dana, on June 18, 2016.[1]

Early life[]

Joel grew up primarily in the Louisiana area. During his childhood, he grew up playing video games, playing the original Nintendo Entertainment System.

For his education, Joel attended and studied at the University of Pennsylvania for four years starting in 1999 and graduating in 2003 with a bachelors (BA) in Fine and Studio Arts and Anthropology. While studying there, his activities and societies include being a member of Mask & Wig, the Delta Upsilon fraternity, and Half Shekel Campaign.

Career[]

Pre-Rooster Teeth and Funhaus[]

Before Rooster Teeth and Funhaus, he worked in TV (various sitcoms that never made it to air, plus a 3-year stint on G4TV's X-Play), at Machinima (founding MachinimaRealm and working on the Machinima, Inside Gaming, and ETC channels and brands).

NBCUniversal, Inc: 2005[]

Joel first started his first job as a production assistant at NBCUniversal, Inc. for 7 months from April 2005 until October 2005. He worked in the office management and as one of the herding screenwriters.

G4 Media: 2007-2009[]

Next, Joel worked as an Associate Producer and Segment Producer at G4 Media for 2 years and 1 month from January 2007 until February 2009. There, he wrote, produced, and supervised the editing of 2-4 minute content packages for the show, including comedy sketches, video game reviews, interviews, and event coverage. He also pitched content ideas for the show, which were developed into theme episodes, running comedy pieces, and other segments as well as researched breaking video game news and developments, which could be turned into content for the show.

Machinima, Inc: 2010-2015[]

After leaving G4Media, he worked as the Senior Director of Programming at Machinima for 4 years and 6 months from August 2010 until January 2015. There, he managed a team of 9 producers and editors to create two daily news shows and scripted entertainment videos, created and executed overarching programming strategy for new media platforms, managed Machinima's flagship YouTube channel (11MM subscribers, 75MM views/month), oversaw development and production of video content from internal and 3rd-party creators, formulated and executed creative ad sales integrations and campaigns across content, managed programming and marketing budgets up to $500K, created and launched Machinima's community gaming channel for YouTube, Machinima Realm, recruited and produced shows with content creators from around the world, including scripted animation, game shows, and tutorials and managed Machinima’s community gaming channel, Realm, from launch to 1MM+ subscribers and 27MM avg, views/month.

At Rooster Teeth and Funhaus[]

Rooster Teeth (2015-2016)[]

He acted as the Senior Director of Channel Programming and Strategy for Rooster Teeth's Funhaus in the Greater Los Angeles area during his time there. As the Director of Programming, his job was to schedule all of their shows across all of the platforms, fill holes in that schedule via creative development, and discover how and why videos perform the way they do. 

  • Launched and managed Rooster Teeth's newest comedy and gaming brand, Funhaus, gaining 900k subscribers and 230MM+ views in 12 months.
  • Working directly with the CEO and Chief Creative Officer, crafted a comprehensive programming plan for Rooster Teeth content, including development, windowing, channel strategy, multi-platform viewing and audience development and growth best-practices.
  • Developed and curated programming slate for 10 shows for Funhaus, including marketing and merchandising
  • Oversaw strategy for daily news YouTube channel, The Know, resulting in 2x monthly views and 4x monthly subscriber gain.
  • Worked cross-functionally with Fullscreen and Rooster Teeth sales teams to execute high-impact brand sales campaigns in studio and on location

Joel made appearances on various Achievement Hunter shows, including Let's Play as well as appearing on multiple episodes of RT Life.

Post-Rooster Teeth and Funhaus: 2016-present[]

Joel officially announced his departure from Funhaus (and subsequently Rooster Teeth) on April 5, 2016 through a Reddit post and a journal entry on his Rooster Teeth profile and officially left the company on Friday April 8, 2016. Despite leaving Funhaus and Rooster Teeth for another job, Rubin has stated that he will continue to reside in Los Angeles, attend RTX, and try to pop up in Rooster Teeth and Funhaus videos every now and then.[2] He also still voices a main character on the company's Sex Swing: The Animated Adventures.

SourceFed and SourceFed NERD: 2016-2017[]

On April 19, 2016, eleven days after his departure, the former Funhaus member and ex-Rooster Teeth employee officially announced through a tweet on his official Twitter page that he would be working as a host on SourceFed and as the Director of Programming at SourceFed Nerd and said he was excited about joining the SourceFed family.[3][4][5]

As the Senior Director of Programming, his new job requirements were the following:

  • Brand development and management of Discovery Digital Networks LA major brands, including creative show development, live streams and events, windowing, cross-platform content optimization, and social media strategy.
  • Crafting start-to-finish sales opportunities with DDN's teams and external clients, including sponsorships and custom branded content.
  • Developing and pitching original series to OTT platforms, including live action, animation, talk-shows, etc.
  • Managing a schedule of 12 shows, including daily news, podcasts, audience interaction shows, live streams, and informational video articles.

When asked what he was hoping to bring to SourceFed, he said that his main goal was making the channels grow. Rubin was also excited to get into some of the news coverage beyond just gaming and geek. Besides working on SourceFed and SourceFed Nerd, he will also be working on People Be Like, and maybe creatively on some Nuclear Family. When asked what he thought was the biggest adjustment of moving from Funhaus to SourceFed, Joel responded,

"There are a lot more people and channels here than just Funhaus, which means a lot more shows, ideas, and different types of content. That's a huge change, but one I'm really excited about. It's nice to have variety!! And, there's working with all new people. There's only one person in this office that I've worked with before. It's going to be a challenge to get to know everyone, find out their interests and strengths, and work with them on what they want to do."

However, when Joel was asked on Reddit if he world still attend RTX 2016, he said,

"Highly doubtful and unlikely because I have to attend my family's wedding on the same day. I will try to attend RTX 2016 for at least one day, but no promises though. I will still definitely all the other conventions later in 2016/early in 2017 and still attend RTX 2017."

And when he was asked on Reddit if he would still reappear as a recurring guest host in Rooster Teeth and Funhaus videos from time to time, Rubin answered,

"That all depends on the Rooster Teeth and Funhaus guys and their decisions on whether to accept me or not every now and then and my free time from my days off from SourceFed. That's not to say I never would, though. I would absolutely be willing to guest star in Rooster Teeth and Funhaus videos from time to time if they ever allow me to temporarily return on my days off. I'm not leaving the RT society or anything".

He worked at SourceFed and SourceFedNERD-owned by Discovery Digital Networks Los Angeles as their Senior Channel Director of Network Programming until late March 2017 when the company was shut down by Group Nine Media.

Disney Channel: 2017[]

Joel then worked as a writer and story editor on the Disney XD Channel, based in L.A., from April to July 2017.

  • Writing 16 full scripted episodes of Parker Plays, a show for Disney XD for the Disney XP programming block.
  • Developing live-action and animated sketches.
  • Generating creative segments, including gameplay, live challenges, on-location events, and in-studio stunts.
  • Attending all shoots to provide additional jokes, segments, and support.

Machinima: 2017-2019[]

Joel worked as an Executive Director, Programming at Machinima in the Greater Los Angeles Area from October 2017 to January 2019.

  • Development and Programming Strategy for Machinima's O&O branded channels, including launching an animation program, creating an all-new slate of multiplatform digital shows, collaborating with Machinima's Business Insights and Strategy teams on audience development and consulting on existing, currently-running programming.
  • Directing the relaunch of Machinima's animation brand, Happy Hour, including development and greenlighting of 8 new and legacy series, executive producing shows, creating platforming strategy and sales/merchandising opportunities, and strategizing a 360 publicity plan with Machinima's Marketing team,
  • Creating a launch and programming strategy for Machinima's 24/7 "Always On" Twitch channel, including original show development, sourcing and managing library IP, overseeing branding and scheduling, and strategizing subscriber value proposition.
  • Working with Machinima Sales and Integrated Marketing teams to creatively incorporate revenue opportunities into existing and custom-built programming.
  • Managing creative development of Machinima's Live Events strategy for 2018, including all-day, on-location live streams and fan-facing events.

UNINTERRUPTED: 2019-present[]

As of May 2019, Joel presently works as the VP of Programming (Consultant) at UNINTERRUPTED based in the Greater Los Angeles Area

Comprehensive assessment of Uninterrupted’s content and brand alignment; providing go-forward plans for Programming and Content Operations. ● Implementing Strategy: creating 2020 slate, developing 15 new, multiplatform, VoD, and live shows, retooling existing series, defining brand tone and purpose, building branded and sponsored sales opportunities. ● Implementing Operations: defining multi-departmental greenlighting process and creating pipeline template, performing comparative analysis on project tracking software, selecting software and onboarding departments.

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