“I’m never going to forget that first big purchase because it was so expensive and more than any other makeup product I had bought before,” Rivera said. “Now, I can just pick up the phone and have companies send me foundation, straighteners, brushes, whatever I need. It’s pretty crazy.”

Today, when most stars say they are “ready for their close-up,” it means Rivera is packing brushes and small containers of eye shadow into his kit and moving on to the next actor on set. Since 2003, Rivera has been the hair stylist and makeup artist on films such as “Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over,” “Sin City,” “The Alamo” and “Friday Night Lights.” 

“It was weird showing up on the set of ‘Spy Kids’ because that was my first big movie,” Rivera said. “There were so many people standing around and I was so nervous standing there with my makeup kit surrounded by people like Antonio Banderas and Sylvester Stallone.”

Being the lone boy in a family of five sisters, Rivera had always been submersed in fashion and style, and he developed an obsession for movies. He loved the lights. He loved the style. He loved the pace.  

Despite his affinity for film, Rivera decided to major in interior design. But while he was taking notes on light fixtures in his classes at Southwestern University, Rivera was always looking for his way into the spotlight.

“Interior design is more of a luxury item and because the economy wasn’t doing too well then, I started looking at other things I liked to do,” Rivera said.

After working in the restaurant industry and opening his own club in Austin, Rivera took some time off and moved to Clute, where his three of his sisters work as local stylists. It didn’t take long for Rivera to pick up on the tricks and techniques of the makeup world until soon, he discovered that brushes and foundation he had learned to perfect could be his ticket to the big screen.

A steady stream of friends would knock on Rivera’s door and they would leave with hair curled and flawlessly applied lipstick. For them, it was a free makeover, but for Rivera it was practice. 

“He picked up on everything so fast and learning it all just came so natural to him,” Mary Martinez, Rivera’s sister said. “I don’t know if styling runs in our blood or what, but we’re all just interested in it. Even as a kid, Joe always had to look perfect.” 

Opportunity knocked for Rivera when he learned that the movie industry was booming in Austin. Heading back north, he moved to Austin and was soon brought on as assistant hair and makeup artist for a string of films by director Robert Rodriquez.

Holding back tears, Martinez says she couldn’t be more proud of her brother for everything he’s accomplished.

“He has a wall in his house full of pictures of him with the stars he’s worked with and everything he’s done,” Martinez said. “He was just a Hispanic man from Clute, and I almost want to cry when I think about it because I’m so proud of everything he’s done. 

“He’s living his dream.”

When he started out, Rivera had a list of people he wanted to work with. Jessica Alba, Robert De Niro and Bruce Willis were a few of the names scribbled on the small slip of paper. Last week, Rivera tossed the list in the trash can while cleaning out his desk — not on accident, but because he had already met and worked with everyone listed.

“If you would have told me 10 years ago that I was going to be at a place where I meet all these people and have Jessica Alba over for dinner, I would have told you that you were crazy,” Rivera said. “Now that I’ve worked with everyone on the list, I need to make a new set of goals.”

But the new list will still revolve around the movie business. Rivera hopes to delve deeper into the industry and eventually have a seat with his name on the back of it.

“Directing and producing is something I want to get into because I’m so passionate about movies,” Rivera said. “In between shoots I’m writing screenplays and working on scripts for future projects, so I’m working toward those goals already.”