‘Hudson and Rex’ producer wins tourism award
After 40 years in the arts industry, Paul Pope recognized for impact he’s had on St. John’s
Filmmaker and television producer Paul Pope — a standout in the arts community for the past 40 years — has been named winner of the St. John’s 2020 Tourism Award.
Pope, of the St. John’s-based film and television production company Pope Productions, was presented with the Legend Award during council’s regular weekly meeting Tuesday.
The award recognizes a group or an individual who has made significant contributions to the enhancement of tourism in St. John’s over a lifetime.
“Most people out there certainly know his name by now,” said Coun. Debbie Hanlon, council’s lead in tourism, who made the presentation. “His productions have created hundreds of jobs and have leveraged tens of millions of dollars of outside investment into our local economy.”
Pope’s current television series, “Hudson and Rex,” is entering Season 4 of production locally in June. The show is a hit for Canada and international audiences, and promotes the city.
Pope is a founding member of NIFCO, the Newfoundland Independent Filmmakers Cooperative, and remains on the board. He’s been an executive board member of the LSPU Hall, and was a founder and board member of Atlantic Studios Cooperative, which owns and rents the film production equipment package locally.
He has served on the boards of the national Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA) and of the Canada Media Fund (CMF). He has served on numerous juries, advisory groups and panels in the arts. Throughout, he has been a tireless advocate for Newfoundland and Labrador.
“I know Paul personally and I’ve worked with him on projects, and Paul is exceptional,” Hanlon said. “What he’s brought to our city is immeasurable.”
It wasn’t a smooth presentation, however. In handing Pope the award — a glassblown piece in the shape of a Tuckamore Tree by artist Brian Power — it accidentally slipped out of Hanlon’s hands
“His productions have created hundreds of jobs and have leveraged tens of millions of dollars of outside investment into our local economy.” Coun. Debbie Hanlon
and broke on the floor. While they made light of what happened, Hanlon gave assurances it will be repaired.
But Pope’s reputation has certainly been unbreakable.
Coun. Shawn Skinner said Pope has brought “new money into our economy,” something the film industry has done quite a bit.
“Anything we can do to support the film industry and this kind of work is something we should seriously consider,” Skinner said.
“I’ve been an admirer of Mr. Pope’s work since ‘Rare Birds,’” Coun. Sandy Hickman added.
Acclaimed film critic Roger Ebert described that 2002 movie as “a sweetheart of a film.”
The Legend Award was the only tourism award presented this year. The city usually hands out tourism awards in several categories. However, due to significant challenges and impacts faced by the tourism industry in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the city presented only the Legend Award.