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Motion Picture Studio records

 Collection
Identifier: UA 1244

Scope and Contents

Contains correspondence, photographs, and other audio-visual materials concerning the Brigham Young University Motion Picture Studio. Materials date from between 1964 and 1985.

Dates

  • 1964-1985

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

Restricted. Closed for 35 years from the date of creation of the records, and thereafter open to the public in accordance with the University Archives Policy.

Conditions Governing Use

It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances. Permission to use material from this collection must be obtained from Reference Services at specialcollections@byu.edu.

Biographical / Historical

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).

Extent

6 boxes (2 linear ft.)

1 half box (0.25 linear ft.)

1 folder (0.01 linear ft.)

Language of Materials

English

Other Finding Aids

Finding aid available online and in the Special Collections reference area.

Other Finding Aids

File-level inventory available online. http://files.lib.byu.edu/ead/XML/UA1244.xml

Custodial History

Transferred from Records Management, February 2006.

Appraisal

Office files (University Archives collecting policy, July 2003).

Title
Register of Motion Picture Studio records
Status
Under Revision
Author
Jennifer Kim
Date
2011 September 2
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid written in English in Latin script.

Revision Statements

  • 2024 January 8: Flags processed, folder 5 added; Karen Glenn.
  • 2024 March: Added audio-visual series, migrated legacy file descriptions; Cory Nimer.

Repository Details

Part of the L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives Repository

Contact:
1130 HBLL
Brigham Young University
Provo UT 84602 US