Skip to main content

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 88 Collections and/or Records:

25th anniversary film / [Brigham Young University], 1978

 Sub-Series — Reel 42: Series 2 [Barcode: 31197233634432]
Identifier: UA 5625 Series 2 Sub-Series 28
Scope and Contents

Film is dated 1978, and was produced by the Brigham Young University Motion Picture Studio. One film reel is included in the collection.

Dates: 1978

A teacher is born / [Brigham Young University] ; [director, Wetzel O. Whitaker], 1955

 Sub-Series — Reel 35: Series 2 [Barcode: 31197233634366]
Identifier: UA 5625 Series 2 Sub-Series 22
Scope and Contents

Film was released in 1955, and was produced by Brigham Young University Motion Picture Department for the Sunday School board of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It was designed as a training video for Sunday School teachers by showing the training needed to teach well.The collection has one copy on a film reel.

Dates: 1955

Alamo : The Price of Freedom, a music master tape

 Item — Box 1: [Barcode: 31197232567153]
Identifier: UA 887
Scope and Contents

Contains background music of the movie produced by Kieth Merrill.

Dates: 1987

Ancient America speaks / Brigham Young University ; produced by W.O. Whitaker ; directed by Scott Whitaker ; written by Millie Foster Cheesman, 1972

 Sub-Series — Reel 33: Series 2 [Barcode: 31197233634341]
Identifier: UA 5625 Series 2 Sub-Series 20
Scope and Contents

Film was released in 1972, and was produced by Brigham Young University Motion Picture Department. It focuses on archaeological evidence in Central America that supports the Book of Mormon. The collection has one copy on a film reel.

Dates: 1972

And should we die / a Brigham Young University production ; produced and directed by Wetzel O. Whitaker ; screenplay by Scott Whitaker, 1966

 Sub-Series — Box 1: Series 3 [Barcode: 31197235218689], disk: 28
Identifier: UA 5625 Series 3 Sub-Series 15
Scope and Contents

Film was released in 1966, and was produced by Brigham Young University Motion Picture Department. The film depicts the persecution of Latter-day Saints in Mexico during the Mexican Revolution and the death of two Church members for not denying their faith. The collection has a DVD copy of the film reel. Dated 1966.

Dates: 1966

And should we die / a Brigham Young University production ; produced and directed by Wetzel O. Whitaker ; screenplay by Scott Whitaker, 1966

 Sub-Series — Reel 28: Series 2 [Barcode: 31197233634291]
Identifier: UA 5625 Series 2 Sub-Series 15
Scope and Contents

Film was released in 1966, and was produced by Brigham Young University Motion Picture Department. The film depicts the persecution of Latter-day Saints in Mexico during the Mexican Revolution and the death of two Church members for not denying their faith. The collection has one copy on a film reel. Dated 1966.

Dates: 1966

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 concerning business, 1980-1995

 Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 940 Series 4
Scope and Contents

Collection of audio-visual materials concerning business and businesses, including negotiations, pay and save, Geneva Steel, CASCOM, and the School of Management. Dated 1980-1995.

Dates: 1980-1995

Brigham Young University audio-visual materials on library research, 1993-1999

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

Collection of videocassettes and film reels of research films, and orientation for the Harold B. Lee Library, and "A State of Confusion: Students talk about writing in College". Dated 1993-1999.

Dates: 1993-1999

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