The funeral for Paul Pope, a man known as a giant in the local film and television industry, will take place tomorrow.

Pope passed away on Thursday following a brief illness. He was 63.

Pope was a founding member of NIFCO, the Newfoundland Independent Film Cooperative.

Leo Furey, former Executive Director of the Newfoundland and Labrador Film Development Corporation, says the Producer of Hudson & Rex had the exact type of qualities needed for fostering a successful film and television career.

Furey says he could spot a great script, “which not everyone can do,” he could scout locations for the right kind of light, geography and topography, “he was a bit of a gadget guy…going back to his Ryerson days,” and he had the business savvy to put together a perfect budget and a good team in short order. Those are rare qualities to find individually, let alone all in one person, and “Paul had them in spades,” says Furey.

Furey says Pope was a mentor to a lot of people in the industry.

Paul Pope’s Secret Nation was my 1st job as a film extra. His Anchor Zone was my first lead role in film. Many people got their 1st jobs in film & TV from Paul. Then their 2nd, 3rd & even 100th. Because of his work with CNA, many more will now learn the craft. RIP Paul Pope.

— Mark Critch (@markcritch) April 14, 2022

He says Secret Nation in 1992 was Pope’s first production, and was an introduction to the film industry for a lot of people in this province. Furey quoted Mark Critch who tweeted out that many in the local industry got their first, second and hundredth jobs with Paul Pope.

The funeral, which will take place Gower Street United Church in St. John’s tomorrow at 10:30 a.m., will be live-streamed.