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Brigham Young University. Motion Picture Studio

 Organization

Dates

  • Existence: 1953 - 1990

Administrative History

The Motion Picture Studio (1953-1990) was a support unit at Brigham Young University. It produced documentary, historical, and training films for use of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and in schools.

Within the Motion Picture Production was the Film Development Advisory Committee. That committee's functions were to review and select subjects for motion pictures, to review motion picture proposals to consider whether they should be approved for production, to review motion picture scripts and make recommendations for changes if necessary, to review marketing studies made on proposed motion pictures, to review budgets for proposed motion pictures, and to evaluate the overall marketing and advertising programs for educational motion pictures.

Originally the Motion Picture Studio reported directly to the president of the university. In 1959, the director of the Motion Picture Studio began reporting to the director of Auxiliary Services. In 1960, Auxiliary Services became the Vice-President of Auxiliary Services. The director of the Motion Picture Studio reported to this Vice-President until 1965 when the Division of Communications was created. Thereafter the director reported to the director of Communication Services, the Instructional Services Division, and the Division of Instructional Production Services.

In 1991 the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints moved the studio from Brigham Young University supervision to the Church. Directors of the Motion Picture Studio included Wetzel O. Whitaker (1953-1974), Jesse E. Stay (1974-1983), and Peter N. Johnson (1983-1990).

Citation:
The Miracle of birth [VR] c1987: credit frame (Brigham Young University, Motion Picture Studio)

Phone call to the Studio, 5/7/97 (management of the Studio transferred to the LDS Church in 1990; official name changed to LDS Motion Picture Studio)

Ensign, Nov. 1987: p. 101 (BYU Motion Picture Studio)

BYU Organizational History Project, via WWW, Apr. 15, 2013 (BYU Motion Picture Production; BYU Motion Picture Studio; est. 1953; produced documentary, historical and training films for the LDS church and schools; included a Film Development Advisory committee, responsible for review and selection of subjects for films, approved productions, reviewed scripts and made recommendations for changes, reviewed marketing studies and budgets and evaluated marketing and advertising; studio originally reported to the university president; 1959, reported to the Auxiliary Services; reported to vice president until 1965 when the Division of Communications was created; then reported to director of Communication Services/Instructional Services Division/Division of Instructional Production Services; in 1991 the LDS church took over the studio; directors of the studio included Wetzel O. Whitaker (1953-1974), Jesse E. Stay (1974-1983), and Peter N. Johnson (1983-1991))

Found in 28 Collections and/or Records:

Brigham Young University audio-visual materials concerning administration, history, and student life, 1979-1986

 Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 940 Series 6
Scope and Contents

Collection of audio-visual materials concerning admissions, Heritage Series, the Honor Code Office, sculptures, BYU institutional message, BY and You, and forums and devotionals. Dated 1979-1986.

Dates: 1979-1986

Brigham Young University audio-visual materials on recruiting, 1976-1995

 Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 940 Series 1
Scope and Contents

Contains videos and film reels of recruiting videos for "A Time to Dance" and other dance, music, administration, art, business, and athletic recruiting. Dated 1976 to 1995.

Dates: 1976-1995

Brigham Young University college and department audio-visual materials, 1971-1995

 Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 940 Series 3
Scope and Contents

Collection of audio-visual materials from various Brigham Young University academic colleges and departments. Dated 1971-1995.

Dates: 1971-1995

Brigham Young University department audio-visual materials, 1981-1995

 Sub-Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 940 Series 3 Sub-Series 10
Scope and Contents

Collection of videocassettes and film reels from various colleges and departments including nutrition, engineering and technology, nursing, humanities symposium, and agriculture. Dated 1981-1995.

Dates: 1981-1995

College of Education audio-visual materials, 1971-1995

 Sub-Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 940 Series 3 Sub-Series 3
Scope and Contents

Collection of tapes and film reels concerning educational materials including symposia, ESL, master teacher series-BYU administration, skill analysis for elementary teachers in PE, USU teacher research training, leadership straining workshop, and department films. Dated 1971-1995.

Dates: 1971-1995

College of Family, Home, and Social Science audio-visual materials, 1980-1995

 Sub-Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 940 Series 3 Sub-Series 7
Scope and Contents

Collection of audio-visual materials from departments within in the College of Family, Home, and Social Science, including history films concerning World War II. Dated 1980-1995.

Dates: Other: 1980-1995

Department of Art audio-visual materials, 1982-1995

 Sub-Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 940 Series 3 Sub-Series 6
Scope and Contents

Collection of Art Department audio-visual materials including tracks for "My Neighbors," and the Museum of Art. Dated 1982-1995.

Dates: Other: 1982-1995

Department of Computer Science audio-visual materials, 1988-1995

 Sub-Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 940 Series 3 Sub-Series 8
Scope and Contents

Collection of reels and videocassettes concerning the Computer Sciences Department. Dated 1988-1995.

Dates: 1988-1995

Department of Dramatic Arts production audio-visual materials, 1977

 Sub-Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 940 Series 3 Sub-Series 2
Scope and Contents

Collection of audio-visual materials including "The Guilty," "Take Down," "Legacy of the Mountain Men," "John Baker's Last Race," and drama protection. Dated 1977.

Dates: 1977

Department of Music, Department of Dance, and performing groups audio-visual materials, 1972-1995

 Sub-Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 940 Series 3 Sub-Series 1
Scope and Contents

Collection of videos and film reels of music and dance department films and performing groups, including "A Celebration of Christmas" and "Family Room," “Lovers and Liars,” “Cry to the Wind,” Music Makers, homecoming, women’s conference 1994, Arthur King Henry 1987, Dance Company, Music and the Spoken Word 1986, Young Ambassadors, theater/show production tapes including Cougar Band Philharmonic, and Primary Satellite. Dated 1972-1995.

Dates: 1972-1995