ISSUE #7 - BIGBITE by BIGBITE

6*Artist proFile 10*MArcus Laporte 16*WHY fullscreen hired a dynamic duo 18*Caleb and Jordan 30*Ask the community: keep moving forward 36*Aquamarine: a RWBY fanfIc 40*top ten 42*BIGBITE UPDATE

CREDITS Pg 1 (cover): Illustration by James Perrett (JP) Pg 7-9: Interview by Kelly Escalante, design by Lewis Manuel Pg10-13: Interview by Joe Dalton, design by Monica Kani Pg 16-17: Words by Dominic Dobrzensky Pg 18-27: Interview by Matthew VanDeZande, design and illustration by JP Pg: 28-29: Design by JP Pg:30-31: Illustration by Mik hail Manuel Pg 32-35: Words and poll by Joe Dalton, Design by JP Pg 36-39: Words by Matthew VanDeZande, i l lu s t r at i on an d d e s i g n by Mon i c a Kan i Pg 40-41: Research by Batara Mulya, design by JP Pg 42-43: Design by JP Pg 44: Illustration by Gaelfox P g 4 5 - 4 8 : I l lu st r at i on an d d e s i g n by J P bigbitemagazine@gmail.com

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MikhailManuel

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How might Fullscreen’s biggest hires to date affect the company and Rooster Teeth? In 2011, several things happened that changed RT forever. The first RTX was held in May. Jordan Cwierz, Barbara Dunkelman and Michael Jones attended. They were hired fulltime a few months later. The community website hit 1 million users. Over in California, Fullscreen was founded by George Strompolos. In November 2014, Rooster Teeth was acquired by Strompolos’ company, a leading YouTube network with over 600 million subscribers. RT CEO Matt Hullum spoke positively about Fullscreen, “paving the way for the future of media and entertainment” and as, “a partner” that could help them to experiment and grow all while remaining true to their core ideology. They have often stressed the importance of their content and community. One year after the acquisition, the community grew excited by the news that long time employees Chris Demarais, Gavin Free and Miles Luna were promoted to key creative positions within Rooster Teeth. What saw less attention were the two new additions over at RT’s parent office, Chief Marketing Officer Jason Klarman and Chief Operating Officer Andy Forssell. What could this mean for Rooster Teeth? Let’s take a look.

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before leading the female-centric programming network Oxygen Media. What may be telling for the future is how in 2007 Klarman was part of a small braintrust that successfully rebranded BRAVO. His team took a look at what was happening online in conjunction with traditional broadcasting and focused their development of NBCUniversal’s network and flagship channel on two areas: “unknown outcomes” that were not-that-hard to execute and “known outcomes” that were hard to execute. Lauren Zalaznick, Klarman’s former BRAVO boss, approved of his promotion to President of Oxygen Media stating, “Jason has an unparalleled gift for identifying a brand’s essence and driving a business from that vantage point.” Under Zalaznick, he encouraged the growth of hit reality shows Top Chef, The Real Housewives and Project Runway and saw BRAVO’s website grow from 8.5 million views/month in 2004 to 90 million views/month in 2008. In other words, he helped expand viewership, increase the primary demographic, lined up new sponsors and generated millions in ad sales. What is key is Klarman established himself as capable of growing audiences on digital platforms. What audience will he be tasked with growing next? The fast and easy answer would be “millennials”. Hullum recently described the future of Rooster Teeth as being, “like HBO, but for the millennial audience.” and Fullscreen is billed as “a global youth media company.”

“You have to understand who your audience is and Who is Andy Forssell? When Jason Kilar, Hulu’s then super-serve them.” - Jason Klarman, 2010 first CEO, stepped down in 2013, he described Forssell as a “critical senior executive” who played a Who is Jason Klarman? When he was promoted to role since it began. President of Oxygen Media in 2010 he described himself simply as, “a curious but strategic execuForssell was briefly CEO of Hulu but is perhaps tive who is just looking to grow the business.” His best known for helping the company shift to more record suggests he adjusts well wherever he works. original, scripted programming. He also helped add He oversaw marketing of then-launched Fox News

to the company’s content partners, including deals with Miramax, BBC Worldwide and Univision, Galavision and Telefutura’s Hulu Latino, and increase revenue to approximately $700 million by 2012. Unlike rival Netflix, Hulu has always had ads. Forssell helped decide how much of their content would end up on their free service versus on their pay service Hulu Plus. As he said in 2013, “It’s not a one size fits all strategy.”

“self-organizes online. They’ll not only tell their friends to go watch it, they’ll spend time convincing someone on a bus.” Klarman and Forssell both share success with models that were beyond the linear norm 10 years ago. Klarman has more experience with the “analog” way but demonstrated something that’s going to be crucial. Embracing and deploying strategies for digital. Forssell was a key player in a major, pioneer streaming service. Both of expressed desires to appeal to specific audiences.

“The Wrong Mans [a new series created by and starring James Corden and Mathew Baynton] is a good Words by Dominic Dobrzensky example. It’s a comedy, but it’s very genre-bending in that it’s a thriller, and when you see one episode you just desperately want to press play and see what’s going to happen next. So that’s one where we’ll keep it as one episode a week on the free service, but we’ll put it all up at once on [Hulu] Plus. That way, if you want to go binge, you can. For comedies, that’s less important.” When asked what genres he would like to tackle Forssell answered, “really smart sci-fi… and then I hate using the term genre-bending because it sounds like industry jargon, but from a viewer’s standpoint, I love things like The Wrong Manswhere you can’t categorize it.” Smart sci-fi that you can’t categorize? Like a space action comedy made using a video game engine? Rooster Teeth launched a paid subscription service app last year with exclusive content and early access but still offers free content on their website.

Jason Klarman

Forssell navigated his company during a difficult time. His friend and boss, Kilar had resigned and their parent companies 20th Century Fox, Disney and NBCUniversal were considering selling it but decided not to, instead investing another $750 million. AT&T and the Chernin Group, the same partners who bought a controlling stake in Fullscreen, even put in an offer to purchase Hulu during Forssell’s tenure. In 2012 Forssell expressed excitement for his company’s spinoff of Community. As he put is, while it served a smaller audience it was one that,

Andy Forssell

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Matt: So we are here first to talk about “Game Kids,” Chelsea had pitched and everybody agreed that that so let’s get in and do that thing. How did that get would be kind of a cool idea and something cool to started and who pitched the idea? have on the channel, so we went forward with it. There are still things we want to do and still adjustCaleb: The idea itself was Geoff ’s, ages and ages – ments that we’re making to that show, but I think it’s years ago – Geoff had the idea that he wanted to just something that’s fun and encompasses the kid/ do this so I remember him telling me about it in family feel. Burnie is also somebody who likes to the early Achievement Hunter days that this was go ahead with ideas, so he’ll just be like, “I’m doing something he wanted to do. Back then, the idea was this.” And I say, “Yeah, okay.” more to be achievement guides and kids’ games. So, actually, early AchievementHunter, you’d see Jordan: *laughs* I mean you can’t really say “no.” we did Kung Fu Panda. It was one of the ones that Geoff did. That was kind of an idea to gauge into that realm. Jordan: He did other videos with Millie, too, right? Caleb: Yeah, to kinda see that. So that was a long time ago. And then …

“I wasn’t winning any roller coaster awards...” Matt: Yeah, what are you going to do to stop him?

Jordan: We did “Minecraft Life” outside of “Game Kids.” Before “Game Kids.” Caleb: Technically, I say no. *laughs* Technically. Granted, I don’t think Burnie’s ever had a bad idea Caleb: So where that comes into play is Burnie and for the channel. I think his “Lazer Tag” video was Matt approached me and they’re like, “Hey, y’know, a really good idea, and while it technically doesn’t we really want to go forward with this idea of a kid- encompass video games I think the idea of the chanfriendly channel. Would you want to run that and nel is to be more of a family-friendly avenue to show would you and your brother want to be on it?” things like that. So I think the “Lazer Tag” video was a really good idea as well as anything like “How So Matt had seen some of our videos and to build a computer.” That’s one of those neat ideas had really enjoyed them and so that’s where it all to share and show that you can have those kinds of came from. Geoff ’s old idea kind of got put behind experiences with your kids. for a few years and then got resurfaced and Matt and Burnie approached me about running it and being Jordan: And that kids are capable of doing – part of the talent for the channel … and Jordan, I guess, too. Caleb: – of doing crazy awesome things? Jordan: Yeah, it’s a package deal. Matt: So how often do you guys put forth new ideas? Because more recently, I’ve noticed, you’ve started doing the “Bros.2” and also the “Kids Craft” videos. So basically how do new projects come to the channel?

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Jordan: I mean, I can’t build a computer. *laughs*

Caleb: And “Bros2” was just kind of a fun collaboration idea. I think Jordan and I are always open to playing with other people and the Hullum boys – Webb and Mills – are huge fans of “Bro Gaming” so they really really wanted to do something with us and we’re like, “Yeah, absolutely. It will be a lot of Caleb: So a lot of that goes – and I run the channel fun!” And I think that the Octodad videos we made – so a lot of that gets pitched and we kind of talk are some of my favorites that I’ve been in. about what goes with the theme of the channel. So … like with “Kids Craft” that was something that Jordan: It’s hilarious to see how the dynamic between

Webb and Mills is older-brother/younger-brother, and it’s the same with us: the younger brother just messes around and the older brother tries to make everything work perfectly and then you get two sets of that and it’s two silly younger brothers - *laughs* - and two control-freak older brothers.

and I – Roller Coaster Tycoon, that was one of my favorite games growing up. The first one. But we did Roller Coaster Tycoon 3 because I know Jordan didn’t really ever play it, so it became –

Caleb: Wow, is that really what you think of me?

Caleb: But not as seriously as I did. So that’s when I thought it would be fun to, like –

Jordan: I played Roller Coaster Tycoon.

Jordan: My emphasis on “control-freak” being a joke won’t come through on typecast, but … *laughs* Jordan: I wasn’t winning any roller coaster awards, but – Matt: So before the interview you mentioned just playing games that you enjoy – is that your primary Caleb: You really weren’t. But – so that was one of way of picking which games you want to play for the really fun things to do was to show him that but the channel or is there more of a broader decision we also enjoy playing sports games together so we process? experimented with that. Jordan: Well, Minecraft was just a given – every- Jordan: I don’t know if we enjoy playing sports body loves Minecraft – and then I think most of the games together … on a team … games are rated “E.” Caleb: Yeah, he’s really bad at sports games … and Caleb: Yeah, the goal is to keep it obviously all games. It’s true. Don’t deny it. But again it really everything kid-friendly. But then “Sims Sisters” is comes down to playing what the kids want to play. with a game that’s rated “T,” but it’s one of those obscure games that everyone deems to be kid-ap- Jordan: Yeah … am I the kid in this situation? propriate for whatever reason. But I think it’s one of those things – like with “Sims Sisters,” Chelsea Caleb: Absolutely. *laughs* and Milly enjoyed playing that beforehand so it felt natural for them to make videos in it. All the “Kids Jordan: I wanna play … NHL! Play” stuff is just whatever-the-kids-want-to-play. The whole idea for this channel, especially with the Caleb: That’s actually probably exactly how it kids, is that it’s not work. It’s work for me, but for happened. everyone else it’s supposed to be fun and it’s supposed to be something they enjoy, and we’re not Jordan: *laughs* Well, and part of it, too, when we’re going to force them to play a game they don’t want deciding what games to play, it’s like … today was to play. So a lot of the ideas do come from the kids the first time we recorded “Minecraft Life” in, like, on the channel – like what they’re playing is what three months because we just couldn’t connect. Like they want to play. And there are also times where it just didn’t work. *laughs* So you kind of have to Burnie has showed games he enjoyed to his kids. So be like, “Well, can’t do ‘Minecraft Life’ so let’s see sometimes it’s more about family-bonding than it is what else is out there.” about making content. Caleb: And then I was also in the sling because of Jordan: *slowly laying his head on Caleb’s shoulder* surgery. Family bonding … Jordan: Oh yeah, you had shoulder surgery! Caleb: And it’s one of those things that – that’s really the goal. The videos are supposed to be stuff that Caleb: And I couldn’t play games, so we had to do the people in it enjoy playing or, like for Jordan one-player games a little bit where I just sat next to

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him and heckled him while he played. Just because Jordan: I like the blindfolded concept because you I was physically incapable of playing video games. have to coach them through it. Jordan: Yeah, who knew that you could dislocate Caleb: And what else was helpful about it was your shoulder playing Minecraft? that I’m very good at Trials, and I’ve played all the courses so I knew them all and he didn’t. So I was Caleb: *laughs* Yeah, that didn’t actually happen. able to really coach him through it and tell him how to play it. But vice-versa … Jordan: I just kind of yelled at Caleb. *laughs* Caleb: *laughs* He had no idea what was going on, so even though he could see, coaching me through it was … not as good. Jordan: Yeah, but let the record show that IT WAS MY IDEA. Matt: The record will show that, yes. Jordan: Bold it, underline it, maybe put some circles Matt: So I will say that one of my favorite videos around it. that you guys did was the “Blindfolded Trials” video. Whose idea was that and do you see yourCaleb: You have to give him what little he has. selves doing more blindfolded games in the future? *laughs* Jordan: That was my idea! That was because Minecraft didn’t work. Y’know, we don’t live together and I have a job outside of this – like a 9-to-5 job outside of “Game Kids” – so I come drive after work and come to record and so I’m here and Minecraft isn’t working so we need to figure out something else to do because I can’t just come back tomorrow or just later so… Caleb: So something needed to be filmed. Jordan: Yeah, and –

“Have you learnt how to spell ‘daffodil’ yet?” Matt: So you mentioned that you didn’t record Minecraft for a while – and I’m not going to say that I marathoned all of them this week, but I kinda did –

Caleb: We were looking through a list of games that Jordan: I’ve been there, I’ve done it. It’s tough. For I own and we saw Trials and he just came up with the video that came out – the highlight video that the idea like, “Let’s do blindfolded Trials!” So we came out – decided to do it and compete. Jordan: We should do that again!

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Caleb: That was for our RTX video that you did it.

Jordan: But then you put it – Caleb: I think that we might do similar things in the future. I don’t know what games or exactly how we Caleb: There were seven videos that you hadn’t would change it up. watched again.

Jordan: Oh.

Jordan than anything else. I think he genuinely believes the Snowmen are out to get him. It’s like a Caleb: You only did nineteen, I had to do the other phobia – he is legitimately uncomfortable. It’s really seven. funny – we don’t do face-cam for those videos so people don’t actually see how uncomfortable he Jordan: I also picked out the highlights for the RTX gets. And it makes me so happy. highlight video … what was the original question? Jordan: And again, the readers won’t be able to Caleb: You didn’t even let him ask a question, see it, but it’s like, ugh! *cringes excessively* Like, Jordan. they’re looking at you and they come over and just, like, touch you. Jordan: So you marathoned them all … Caleb: He cringes. Really bad. Matt: I marathoned them all and I have a small list of questions just based off of that series. Jordan: I don’t like them. I really just don’t like them. *hides face in sweatshirt* I also don’t like vegetables Jordan and Caleb: Okay. and snowmen have vegetable noses. Matt: Have you learnt how to spell “daffodil” yet?

Caleb: I think that’s right.

“I also don’t like vegetables and snowmen have vegetable noses”

Jordan: That’s how I would spell it.

Caleb: …You mean carrots?

Caleb: That’s how you did spell it.

Jordan: Yeah.

Jordan: And then you added the “E.”

Caleb: You can just say “carrot,” you don’t have to say vegetables in general.

Caleb: No. *laughs* I think. Let me try it right now: D A F F O D I L. Jordan: Is that right?

Caleb: We actually talked about that in the RWBY video that came out yesterday – we talked about Jordan: You’re a carrot. that, we brought it back up. The “Daffodile.” Matt: Caleb, what would it take for you to change Matt: Jordan – have you overcome your racism your gamertag to “Calb Smell”? towards Snowmen? Caleb: *laughs* Maybe bring that up next Extra Life, Jordan: I don’t know if “racism” is the right word, that could be sort of a goal. But I like my gamertag, but I really don’t like them. *laughs* Sometimes, it’s kind of fun – y’know, you’re just overly silly, but I really – there’s something about them. They just kind of move and Jordan: I’ll figure out his password and change it. I feel like they’re supposed to be random but every time I encounter one they all turn and look at me. Caleb: – like one thing that people don’t know about Like … why? Are they random? my gamertag is that everyone’s assuming that I’m saying “Caleb loves you” like I’m telling other peoCaleb: I think it’s more of a conspiracy theory for ple that I love them, so people write back to me like,

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“I love you, too.” I get random messages from people I play saying, “I love you, too,” but they don’t understand that I’m actually so self-centered and into myself that when I made that gamertag I was actually staring in the mirror, speaking in third-person, letting myself know how much I love myself.

Jordan: Yeah, so, Caleb before “Caleb loves you” was “PB Moo Cow PP” and he had a friend who was “Goose,” and another friend who was “Chicken,” so he was like, “Jordan, you have to be an animal!”

Caleb: Because you played – he played Halo with us all the time and he was always our fourth and it Jordan: What he’s really trying to say is that his was always really weird that we had a potato with a parents never told him that. So he needed to bunch of animals. It just didn’t make sense. compensate. Jordan: So then I went with “Shark.” Matt: … but they’re your parents, too. Caleb: Because he liked sharks at the time. Jordan: And they told me it all the time! That’s why my gamertag isn’t “Jordan loves you,” it’s … it’s Jordan: I do like sharks. Because of the San Jose “Kooga Shark.” Sharks, my favorite hockey team. So … “Kooga Shark.”

“Yes, i would beat Caleb in a FIght”

Caleb: And that’s really just where it came from, we just needed another word to throw in there. Jordan: I want to change it again to make it, like, “Jordan.” That might be taken. Matt: Well, if you did change it, what would it take for you to change it to “Yo-Yo Man Y”?

Matt: Now where did “Kooga Shark” come from? I Caleb: *laughs* Oh, please do! was wondering about that. Caleb: You’re welcome, Jordan.

Jordan: *laughs* That’s actually pretty good! I don’t know if it would take very much, that’s a good one! *laughs* But nobody wants to be “Yo-Yo Man Y.”

Jordan: Yeah, so … this was when I lived in California. My parents had gone to Fiji and they Matt: You can see if “Rain” is taken. brought me back a rugby ball. So “Kooga” is actually a brand – it’s a rugby brand, I believe, and I was Caleb: *laughs* Just “Rain.” picking out a new gamertag. What was my gamertag before that? It was like … “Spud head”? Jordan: You know, it’s funny – at my last job in California my nickname was “White Rain.” Caleb: “Spud Trooper 04”

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Caleb: … what? Jordan: “Spud Trooper 04,” and that was because in middle school one of my teachers had a Mr. Potato Jordan: Yeah! And when I left the company – there’s Head Clone Trooper – but anyway. So “Kooga” I a brand of shampoo that “White Rain” – and they picked out because there was this Kooga ball sitting gave me shampoo as my going-away gift. And I right there on the table.. can’t remember why they called me that. Probably because I told them that story. Caleb: Well the “Kooga” actually came second, Shark came first. Caleb: Rain for life.

Jordan: Born rain, I’m going to stay rain.

Matt: I always answer with “42,” I think I should start answering with a more rational number.

Caleb: Not “Yo-Yo Man Y,” although that is a really good gamertag. Like if I encountered a “Yo Yo Caleb: Like 7. Man Y” I’d be like, “That’s a pretty good name.” Otherwise, you could be “Set of Wicked Water Jordan: There’s 42 rapid-fire questions. Witch W.” You were killed by – Matt: Here we go. Jordan: – “Rain.” Jordan: Yes, I would beat Caleb in a fight. Caleb: – “The Set of Wicked Water Witch W.” *laughs* Matt: Umm … that’s not one of them, but I’ll put it in there. Jordan: *laughs* I’ll think about that. Jordan: Okay! *laughs* Alright, we’re ready. Matt: Favorite video game to play? Jordan: Borderlands 2 Caleb: Currently? Or … of all time? Jordan: All time. Caleb: Halo 2 Matt: Favorite game to record? Jordan: Minecraft. Caleb: Minecraft. Jordan: There’s just so much to do. I –

Matt: Okay, rapid fire questions … Jordan: Ok. Seven!

Caleb: Let me take that back. I like recording Minecraft with everyone except for Jordan. Jordan: Wow. Caleb: *laughs* You’re so bad!

Matt: … No. Wait, hold on … I actually have seven rapid-fire questions. Jordan: Well, I am really bad at Minecraft. And I mean there’s times when you’re recording where Caleb: Ooohhh! Jordan, it finally worked! *laughs* you’re just ridiculous but I really am that bad at Minecraft. Jordan: I know everything! Caleb: Yeah, Jordan’s not acting. Caleb: You definitely didn’t use that answer for everything. Ever. Jordan: Yeah, it’s just … yeah.

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Caleb: We’re not very good at rapid responses. to be in more videos. There’s nothing else in the *laughs* company that makes sense. If I could make up a job that involves me just sitting at my desk and doing Jordan: I would love – if “Bro Gaming” were to whatever I want all day, I would do that. But it’s one move away from “Game Kids,” which it won’t – but of those things where Geoff approached me – what I would love to record GTA V with Caleb – was it, four, four-and-a-half years ago? – and was like, “Hey, we need this and I think you’re the right Caleb: That would be so terrible. person.” And I was like, “That’s actually what I want to do with my life!” It all just kind of meshed perJordan: – because it would be so much fun. It’s like fectly and I’m really fortunate that I do what I want. Minecraft but with killing. I guess you can kill in Minecraft. It’s like Minecraft with guns. And it’s easy Matt: That was a really touching answer. to record videos where random things can happen, because that’s when things just get ridiculous. Jordan: *fake crying* That was beautiful. *laughs* How am I ever going to follow that up? Caleb: *sigh* Caleb: Well, you don’t actually work at the company, Jordan: And that was my really slow rapid-fire so … answer. Jordan: Technically, I am a contracted employee. Matt: It’s on his LinkedIn, it counts. Jordan: That’s true, it is on my LinkedIn. *laughs* Caleb: Jordan, I have an answer for you. Jordan: Well, I’m going to give my answer because I’m me. I have a lot of stupid video ideas and I’ve always wanted to put those into action, but I have zero video and editing capabilities. Matt: If you had any job at RoosterTeeth or Caleb: He has no idea how to do it. AchievementHunter that you don’t currently have, what would it be? Jordan: Yeah. Caleb: I’d do what I’m supposed to do.

Caleb: At all.

Jordan: If it was something else –

Jordan: And I spend a lot of time telling Caleb about all my great ideas.

Caleb: There’s nothing else I want to do! I was hired to be the Community Manager, I’m the Community Caleb: It’s terrible. *laughs* Not the ideas. The ideas Manager. are great. Matt: - other than the job you currently have.

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Jordan: I think being able to put whatever silly ideas I have in my head – I don’t know if this actually Caleb: But that’s the thing, though. One of the counts as a job, but RoosterTeeth has cameras and things I get all the time is, like, “Hey, are you going people who know how to do that. to be in more videos, Caleb?” And no, I don’t want

Caleb: He’d want to be essentially an idea-guy for things called? the company. That’s what he’d want to do. Caleb: … What? Are you talking about the enemies? Jordan: Yeah! Jordan Denecour: Idea Guy. Oh, hey, The creatures of Grimm? our Mom’s calling, do you want to get her in on the interview, too? Jordan: The spin-y ones? The Bal … rog? No that’s Lord of the Rings. Caleb: No. Matt: Favorite pizza topping? Jordan: “Who do you love more?” “Jordan.” And, moving on! Caleb: Pepperoni.

“He’s just silly! I’m a silly guy!”

Jordan: Like, just one? Matt: I mean, if you can’t pick on, you are more than welcome to branch out.

Matt: Favorite Red vs. Blue character?

Jordan: I’m just a meat-lovers guy. Like, just put meat on it. Like when I go to Subway – that’s not a Jordan: Caboose. pizza place, but it’s relevant – I just say, “Put all the meat that you have on it. And some cheese. And I’m Caleb: Of course it would be Caboose for you. Of good.” It’s called “The Feast,” and you can order it. course it would be. It’s a real thing. Jordan: He’s just silly! I’m a silly guy!

Caleb: My go-to junk pizza is Domino’s pan-pizza with pepperoni and cheddar cheese.

Caleb: I like Grif and Church a lot, I can’t really pick between the two. There’s certain traits that each have Jordan: I just order a large cheese pizza and eat the that I really enjoy. whole thing by myself and cry … that doesn’t happen. I mean, I eat the whole large cheese pizza, that Matt: Favorite RWBY character? happens. Caleb: Oh! That’s really hard.

Matt: But order a meat-lover’s, though.

Jordan: *looking flabbergasted*

Jordan: But they’re more expensive!

Caleb: Jordan doesn’t actually watch RWBY. So …

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Jordan: If you watch the RWBY videos, it’s basically For the next half hour, Jordan, Caleb, and I chatted just me going “I dunno” – about a wide array of topics. We talked about Jordan’s venture to earn his Master’s Degree in Business Caleb: And I’m actually disappointed that he doesn’t Administration, Caleb spoke on his origins with watch RWBY, because the show is so good. I think Achievement Hunter, we figured out that Jordan’s – and it’s so hard to pick – I really like Nora a lot. favorite RWBY character is actually the Grimm called I’m a huge fan of Nora. Her extreme optimism is “Boarbatusk,” Caleb reminisced about the early days awesome. It’s really fun. Her character is just so of Grifball, and they even asked me about things here enjoyable. at BIGBITE. It was an incredible time and I cannot wait to chat with them again! Jordan: What are those little warthog battle-toad

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Exactly one year ago (as of the date of publication), the Rooster Teeth community - and the world - lost one of the most talented, inspirational, and creative minds we’ve ever seen. Monty Oum, lead animator at Rooster Teeth, and creator of RWBY, was an inspiration to us all. Last year, at the time of his passing, RT CEO Matt Hullum asked that, in lieu of flowers, that the members of the community create something in Monty’s memory. So, we wanted to follow up on that. We reached out to the content creators in our community, and asked them one simple question:

hen Monty passed, I wanted to find a way to create something to honor his memory. There was just one little problem...I’m kinda...bad... at stuff...so it really took me a while to come up with something. The end result of my journey led me to something amazing, so I’d like to share that story.

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to Editor, to Chief Operational Officer! And over time, I’ve gotten to do some amazing things. I’ve had the opportunity to interview some awesome people (including Ray Narvaez, Jr. and Marcus LaPorte), helped Mikhail develop a new comic for the magazine, developed a recurring article that features ordinary members of the community (that’s At the time of Monty’s passing, I had really given up this one, for those of you keeping score at home), on every creative outlet I had. I was in an extremely and have had a hand in developing some of the new, dead-end job (I was managing a closing RadioShack upcoming content that BIGBITE Media has to offer. at the time), and devoted every spare moment to my new daughter. The best project I could come up But, if anything, Monty has inspired me (and us with at the moment was the modern equivalent of as a staff) to do one thing. When I signed on, this a mixtape. By this point, RadioShack had stopped was just a thing we made...no real direction, we just paying for in-store music, so we made our own. So, were making a fan magazine. It quickly evolved into I made a mix of soundtracks from projects Monty a mission. BIGBITE Magazine (and now BIGBITE had a hand in (RWBY and recent RvB), and played Media) is about assisting the content creators in them as our store music. But that was all I had. reaching the Rooster Teeth Community. We’re now all about featuring as much community content as After that, I began work on a now-shelved Youtube possible, from writing, to art/graphic design, now project, which gave way to some multimedia pro- on to audio and video! jects for a small business that I worked for at the time. But, unfortunately, I was incredibly under- Monty, I’ve honored your memory, not through employed then, so I spent a ton of time on the RT creating content itself, but through helping others subreddit. There, I saw a post about looking for help share their creations. I feel that’s my place here. And with some RT Fan Magazine thingy, and one of the I love it. things they needed help with was social media. My job title at the time was “social media director.” So, Thank you for helping inspire this great endeavor. wanting to find a way to contribute to the community, I reached out to James. Joe Dalton Editor, BIGBITE Magazine Over time, I saw myself flourish creatively. Who Chief Operational Officer, BIGBITE Media knew I liked writing so much? As BIGBITE grew, I ascended the ranks from Social Media Director,

onty has inspired a generation of young content creators, and I’m one of them. His hard working attitude and constant focus for bigger and better art has helped me get where I am today, and for that, I am thankful. One of the amazing things about Monty (and I’m sure you’ll hear many more from other people) is that he was self-taught with his animation. He made it hard for content creators to give up on their project even if they didn’t have the required (apparent) training to do it. I feel like I’m one of those content creators who thought about starting a project but didn’t because I didn’t have the skills, then thought about Monty, and said, “Well, I’ll just learn the skills, like Monty did”. His attitude made people knuckle down and get on with it. Yes it was going to be hard - very, very hard. But that shouldn’t, and won’t stop you! If someone like Monty can stay up late and get up early to work on a project that he loves and helps him get somewhere where he wants to be, then why can’t you? We owe it to him to!

would be possible. I’m now making my own show, with the friends he helped me to find. Thanks Monty. Paul Trapmore, The G-Town Adventure

nadulterated will, that’s what I think of when I think Monty Oum. The man was a genius, but when I found that he was self taught as an animator, I was stunned. And then I thought, “If he could do it, why couldn’t I?” So began a new chapter. Monty inspired me to create through his single minded determination, if something needs to be done, then do it! Hell his habit of falling asleep when not actively working was evidence of that, make whatever time you have productive, for whatever activity it is. Just keep doing things, and that’s an ideal we should all get behind. For the sake of repeating others in this article.

Keep moving forward Monty Oum inspires me today with all kinds of pro- McDom jects. He inspires me at work to think outside the box and put my all into every design brief sent my way. He inspires me with this magazine you’re readonty was a huge influence on me when I was ing now - for without his mind-set it might not have back in college. I saw his work and thought, lasted this long. There have been a few times I’ve “Yeah, I can do that. I want to do that.” Turns out been overwhelmed with work from this magazine I’m not much of an animator, but his words and his and thought about missing an issue, then thinking work ethic were no less inspiration.His passion and to myself, ‘I like creating this, so why am I stop- endless drive inspired me then and continue to do ping?’. You can always find a way to do what you so today. If I can be half the person he was, and do love - just step back and think. half of what he accomplished in my lifetime I would call myself happy. You’re a legend, Monty. You’ll always be remembered within this community - your community. Thanks Monty.

Thanks for inspiring a generation. James Perrett Editor in Chief, BIGBITE Magazine President, BIGBITE Media

Monica Kani Graphic Designer, BIGBITE Magazine

onty has inspired me through his artwork and animation by making his dreams come to life. He has worked really hard with his unique animation style and made it look good. onty created RWBY, a show that i have come Monty created lots of great things with RWBY as to love and enjoy and made many friends as well as his other works. I learned from him to have a result. Now i’m doing something i never thought a good work ethic and be creative. Do things that

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not everyone might think of. Ride with an idea to make it awesome. No matter what, never stop creating things. Ashley Weill, Artist

interested, gave them a follow, and read the first issue. Then I saw that they needed someone to write RT-based news on their blog. I figured that this was my best chance to finally be an active member of the Rooster Teeth community. I still didn’t have much hope, I’m just a college kid with no journalistic or writing experience, so why would BIGBITE bring me aboard? Well, they did, and I’ve enjoyed every moment of being a member of the team. If it weren’t for Monty Oum, I would not be part of such an amazing group doing something that I really love. Monty, I hope that you see this wherever you are, because everything I do for BIGBITE is a tribute to you, and I have had so much fun doing it. From the bottom of my heart Monty, thank you for inspiring me and helping me to do what I love and being the best me that I can be.

’ve always been more of a visual storyteller than a verbal one - give me a blank piece of paper and a pen and I’ll fill it up with random sketches in no time - but I never really had the motivation to do anything with it until I discovered Monty. He made me realize that something doesn’t need to be flawless for it to still be beautiful, that something can be really rough around the edges and still be more compelling than something that’s highly-polished. I’m taking steps to improve my skills as an artist, to learn how to animate, and to just improve my skills as a storyteller in general, and it’s all thanks to John Byrne Monty Oum. Staff News Writer, BIGBITE Media Jonathan Sweet

have never been a very creative person for most of my life. That changed when Monty Oum passed away. I had been a fan of Monty’s work for a long time, but I never knew much about him, save for when his odd habits were brought up on the podcast or other forms of Rooster Teeth Productions. When he passed, I really got to learn who he was. I remember Matt saying that instead of flowers or the like to pay tribute to Monty, we, as community members, should create something. Because of that, I started writing short stories. Nothing RT related, but they were still my personal tribute to Monty. After that, I wanted to start doing something RT related, but I had no clue what to do. I have never written a fanfiction or anything like that before, and until recently I was afraid of the negative stigma they have attached to them (now I realize that most fanfictions are interesting and fun, and not the weird type). So I was left just wondering what to do and not having any leads on anything.

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Then one night, I saw someone on my Twitter feed retweet a BIGBITE Magazine tweet. I was

o ask how has Monty inspired me today is a bit of hard question to answer, not because it’s hard to come up of a reason, it’s because he has affect my life so much. Probably even more that he passed. Monty was a huge idol for me when he was alive, I strived to be like him. An appreciated animator with people around him who support his every drawing and frame of animation. I just wanted to be like him because he was the ideal person to look up to. He mad an amazing show that broke recodes and made stamens everywhere. But then he passed, and we all shut down for a while as soon as the news passed. The fandom came together and I felt loved an appreciated in the mist of another wave of depression hit with his passing. But then a month afterwards something changed and Monty wasn’t an idol anymore, he was a motivator. I began asking myself if Monty would like me wasting my time mourning his life when I should be moving forward like he always wanted. This changed my entire outlook on life, I started working hard and drawing more, even animating a bit. While I work he’s always in the back of my mind motivating everything that I did and I’m glad for that because without Monty I probably wouldn’t be where I am right now. So thank you Monty, for everything. And to all you still

mourning keep moving forward, because you can had few friends, and even fewer if you don’t count be strong all on your own. friends from the internet. I frequently felt isolated, misunderstood, and alone. The only constant was Emily Hoff my writing. And then I found Monty’s videos – his unbelievably amazing videos that were not only similar to everything I wrote, but so much better. They onty inspired me in the same way he inspired inspired me to work that much faster, and harder a lot of artists, he pushed me to improve my – to imagine bigger and greater. To imagine more. I art and do the best that I could. His death rattled had so many new ideas each time I watched one of me to my core, and made me want to do better in Monty’s videos. And then I started having new ideas a way I never had before. Before I had the illusion on my own. Brand new ideas I was sure no one had of all the time in the world, that there was plenty of thought of before. And then Monty would put out a time to improve and interact with the community. video and there would be my idea – whether it was In the face of his death I saw hundreds of strangers a character, choreography or a plot point. There was get together and mourn him, I saw a community I my idea and Monty had it first. So I worked faster wanted to be a better part of. So in August 2015 I and faster and faster, I wrote and wrote and wrote. I launched the RoosterTeeth Community Quickdraw, wanted so badly to match him and to come up with where I would pick community members at random an idea that was truly my own. and interview them while drawing their picture request. This fulfilled my two goals, to improve my And I was so close. art and become more active in the RT community. And then I lost him. I hope to continue to improve and interact with the community in the coming years and I hope we all The following story is the only true way I know to find peace in the projects made in his name. honor Monty – it is a fiction based off his own original idea, RWBY. It is something I never wrote while Tyler, Rooster Teeth Community Quickdraw he was alive because I had hoped to work on it with him. I have to accept that I’ll never have that chance. Over the next few months, I will be releasing stories t is now almost twenty hours since I started for each of the four main characters, similar to how writing the first drafts of this. On the day it goes Monty released trailers for Ruby, Weiss, Blake, and public, it will be one year since the death of Monty Yang. I have put more effort into these words than Oum. I am trying to write for him. Nothing I do I have for anything else, and I want to welcome you feels good enough. And as I am now starting this to this journey with me.So please, turn the page and piece over for what must be somewhere around the join me in the first steps of Aquamarine: a RWBY tenth time, I worry it never will. Fan-Fiction.

I never met Monty Oum. As I wrote in my tribute last year, I always thought it would have just been too amazing to happen … I still haven’t fully come to grips with how true that is now. I still haven’t fully been able to accept that I will never have the chance to thank him for everything he did for me. And my heart still breaks when, as I read over the latest draft of a story or as I put the final detail into an outline, I realize that I will never be able to show him how hard I’ve worked to match him – how hard I worked and how just so painstakingly close I was.

Matthew VanDeZande Lead Staff Writer, BIGBITE Magazine

If you’d like to share your story with us, tweet us at our new handle, @BIGBITEMedia, or find us on Facebook at facebook.com/BIGBITEonline. Ask The Community will be taking on a new format next issue. We hope it will help lend a voice to even more people in the community! Keep an eye on our Twitter/Facebook, as well as the RT Subreddit for more details. I discovered Monty at a time in my life when I We love you, Monty. Thank you.

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2016 see’s BIGBITE expand from a magazine into much more! From our humble roots as the Rooster Teeth Community magazine, titled BIGBITE Magazine, we have developed the brand, planned the future, and are now BIGBITE Media - the home to original content and more from the Rooster Teeth community. We now have a little site (BIGBITE.online), 3 animated shows currently being worked on, podcasts being talked about, and new members of the team joining the roster. Each issue we will give a ‘BIGBITE update’ for those who are interested in the on-goings within our brand. Our first update will cover a little bi-weekly animated show named Super Best Friends. Super Best Friends is BIGBITE’s first animated show, premiering in early 2016 and created by BIGBITE head honcho, James Perrett. SBF is half sketch show, half episodic dream journal. Yep. It’s a thing now. This lighthearted, animated illustration show will take us on an adventure meeting and chating to bands that can’t decide on a name, aliens that like to dance, beds that are.. well beds, food that argue, bugs that carry the fate of the world, lamps that bright up your day and more – all ranging from the spectacular and mysterious to the mundane and mediocre. It is kind of similar to Breaking Bad, but if all the characters were different and the story was about a little boy trying to find friends in his dreams. Imagine one of those shows where the main character wakes up at the end and it was all a dream, only this time it’ll make sense and you won’t be left disappointed and sick to the core. Included below is a video of the show’s introduction. It has a few elements taken out - we didn’t want to give everything away did we! Tweet us your thoughts on the intro @BIGBITEmedia. We would love to know what you think of it!

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