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A decade inToday is a very special day for me. It marks a personal, private milestone of my own. Most of you know April 1, 2003 as the official start date of Rooster Teeth and our flagship show, Red vs Blue. However it was Sept 5, 2002 that I uploaded the first ever RvB video to the web -- The Blood Gulch Chronicles Trailer. This was long before I had ever heard the words "machinima" or "youtube" -- I was just creating a funny video to make my friends laugh. In fact, the trailer was a way to actually show people what I was talking about, a proof of concept in a way. It only features two RvB characters for a brief moment: Grif & Simmons at the end of the video wondering what the hell they just watched. The red soldiers don't even have their guns down in the shot; I hadn't discovered that bug yet. The whole purpose of the video was to test the idea of using a videogame to make movies. We have added a lot of indispensable, talented people over the years but I will always remember that first weekend, sitting alone in a room making a project -- just a guy and an idea coming together. When it was done, I would watch the trailer with people and say "the two guys at the end were talking to each other, get it?" Everybody got it.
It's crazy to think I have been working on this show for an entire decade of my life. I have had other productions come and go in that time -- some successes, some failures -- but RvB has always been a constant. It's always on mind and gives me a stable base from which I grow and develop all this other crazy stuff I get to make. I love making this show and I am grateful and proud for every day I get to show up for work at the greatest company in the world. I have had personal ups and downs as well. I made this trailer literally one month after my mom passed away. I worked on the video as a way to take my mind off that grief. It's hard to believe one of the most important people in my life never got to see even the beginning of my biggest journey. I always wonder what she would have thought of all this nonsense.
In that ten years I have raised two awesome boys, built an incredible company, met thousands of amazing people, flown all over the world, and helped my dearest friends build their careers. I even got the chance to contribute to a franchise that is as important to me as any other work of fiction. There have been hard times too, but I tend not to share those. You always have to grow and learn as a person -- I would like to think that I have had the opportunity to do a lot of both. I would change a few things, but only a few.
The next ten years are wide open. This little company has grown to be a leader in an industry that didn't even exist when it started. I can't tell you what I'll be writing about on Sept 5th 2022. I had no idea ten years ago that uploading a little two minute video to the internet would change my life forever. But it did and I am grateful for the path it set me on. There will be a bigger celebration when we hit our official ten year milestone, but for today I will enjoy this personal anniversary.
I don't know how long Red vs Blue will run. As far as I'm concerned, the agreement I made with all of you ten years ago still stands -- if you keep watching 'em, we'll keep making 'em. If you have come this far, maybe you're willing to come just a little farther. Deal? Deal.
Thanks for ten years of watching a show about a handful of idiots stuck in a canyon in the middle of nowhere. Thanks for sticking around. Thanks for supporting my work. Thanks for everything.
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I've had a terribly shitty week. I was dumped by someone I loved with all my heart and she refuses to talk to me. This journal was so sweet it's cheered me up.
The ironic part? If it wasn't for this trailer, this break up never would have happened. I met her on this site, we never would have even met. But I don't regret it one bit. It's like you said Burnie. "There have been hard times...You always have to grow and learn as a person -- I would like to think that I have had the opportunity to do a lot of both. I would change a few things, but only a few."
Don't thank us Burnie, thank you. This silly little show has been a huge part of my life since I was 13. Even this little journal, made for thousands of people, means so much to me that I am literally sitting here crying. So thank you, thank you so much.
Burnie this company and this community you've made mean more to me than damn near everything in my life. I've made so many friends here, and had so many laughs. I've spent more time watching your videos than is probably healthy, I've listened to every ...
Congrats on the Milestone. You are a big inspiration. When I am having troubles with my writing, (I enjoy writing books), I just think, what would Burnie do and I get more inspiration. Keep it up. Here's to another 10 Years!
P.S. I will always watch RT stuff and keep buying
(Props for the Shawshank reference!)
Here's to another wholesome ten years!
memory is the key
I'm very impressed with what you've made from scratch and the team you've built. You're an inspiration and seeing what you've accomplished makes me want to try harder to reach my goals.
I can't thank you enough.
You've created something fantastic and wonderful! Through all the years I've always been entertained and no matter how often I left this site, I always come back in the long run. It blows my mind to think how successful you and everyone at RT have become. It truly gives all of us little people following you the inspiration to leave our own impression on the world.
You and the folks at RT have given me more countless hours of joy than any other media source, be it video games, TV, movies or books. You've made a loyal fan out of me and as long as you guys keep true to the work you've done over the years, you can count me among those that will continue to be here.
I've gotten my family and husband hooked on RvB since, and it's really great to hear my dad quote Sarge or Caboose.
Keep up the work, you keep making them, we'll keep watching. You rock.
P.S I still fear your laser face