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Steve Troop's blog

Script back on Track!

Submitted by Steve Troop on November 6, 2009 - 04:03

The last couple of days I’ve been rewriting the script to the movie and I’m much happier with it now. I think there’s a lot to be said for taking a break from a project to get a new perspective on it. Taking the month off for Halloween seems to have sparked all kinds of creative energies and I’m pleased to report that the next draft (hopefully close to the final draft) will be ready in the next couple of weeks.
Maybe.
As it turns out, I got a super cool freelance job for the next week. I’m probably not allowed to talk about it, but it’ll be a nationally-run campaign, so I’m really excited about it. Will post more when I’m able!

Klingon Propaganda

Submitted by Steve Troop on October 27, 2009 - 04:00

I saw this over on TrekMovie.com yesterday and thought you guys might get a kick out of it. No word on whether it’s part of some Paramount-sanctioned viral marketing campaign or something that fans put together. Either way, it’s really cool! Enjoy!

Halloween Home Stretch

Submitted by Steve Troop on October 26, 2009 - 12:58

On Friday I should be able to post some pictures of all the cool stuff I’ve been working on for Halloween. Sarah and I have been working at a feverish pace to get our house decorated for a party we’re having, and I didn’t want to give any of the surprises away beforehand. Also, the two costumes I have this year are both secret, so I didn’t want to spoil those, either.
Why two costumes? Well, my main costume works only with Sarah’s costume, so I needed a separate “stand alone” costume for work. I ended up scrambling around for this second costume, so assuming the postal system doesn’t have any hiccups, I should have all of it in time for Friday. If not, I guess I’ll be wearing the equivalent of “Hardy” (as in Laurel and Hardy) to work. More soon!

Friday Surprise!

Submitted by Steve Troop on October 9, 2009 - 12:42

So, I was floored to see this post on longtime Melonpool reader John (”Soxfan59″) Russell’s facebook page this morning. I think this meant as much — if not more — to me than the comics that were sent to him meant to him. Reposted with John’s permission! If you ever need legal council in the Chicago area, I can recommend no finer lawyer. Here’s his website.

I have a collection of rare, original artwork. All by the same, well known and talented artist.

(Re) Learning to Draw

Submitted by Steve Troop on October 8, 2009 - 12:37

So, I’ve started sketching things in my sketchbook again. It’s weird to see how rusty I’ve gotten over the last few years, especially having just read just about every comic I’ve ever drawn while converting this site over to Wordpress… but I’m confident that if I apply myself, I’ll get my mojo back.

Happy Halloween

Submitted by Steve Troop on October 7, 2009 - 04:01


About three years ago, Sarah and I (as well as Erik, Chris and Roger) made a series of short films for Kevin Smith’s Quickstop Entertainment… one of which was a spoof of “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.”
Sarah and I had a problem blocking the Great Pumpkin video with the larger Melonpool puppets, so during one of the takes, we grabbed a Kermit the Frog puppet and a Lambchop puppet to practice. For whatever reason, we filmed this one-time practice… and it became the most widely-distributed video we’ve ever made.
If you haven’t seem “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Kermit the Frog,” you’re in for quite a treat! Or maybe a trick.

Book ‘Em?

Submitted by Steve Troop on October 6, 2009 - 04:02

As I’ve written in earlier posts. I’ve been working on the latest draft of the script. It’s starting to take shape, but I suddenly became aware of a deadline looming ahead of me: Christmas!
Why should I worry about that, you may ask, since it’s barely October and it’s not like I have a comic that’s updating or anything… well, there is one more Melonpool thing that needs to get done, and if I can get my act together, there could be a Book IV under some of your trees this year!

I fly The Steel Duck

Submitted by Steve Troop on October 5, 2009 - 04:00


The Steel Duck, in a lot of ways, predates the current version of Melonpool by about a decade. Created for a 1984 video project called “Bizarre Wars,” The Steel Duck was Ham Sirloin and Chew’n'Tobacco’s trusty spaceship. Realized as a 3-inch model in 1991 for an unfinished remake of this crazy parody, The Steel Duck became Mayberry’s ship in 1996 with the publication of The Melonpool Chronicles. Up until that time, Mayberry flew around in a ship that looked an awful lot like the Starship Enterprise.

Man the Canons!

Submitted by Steve Troop on October 2, 2009 - 04:00

I think I have a new-found appreciation for anyone that’s tried to adapt something from one medium to another — like say, how they adapted MASH the movie to MASH the television series. It’s difficult to know what changes make the property better and which ones make it worse.

Sam/Sammy

Submitted by Steve Troop on October 1, 2009 - 04:03

Real short post here today… I’m rewriting the script, slowly but surely, and have had to address, yet again, the whole Sam/Sammy debate.