Brigham Young University. Motion Picture Studio
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 89 Collections and/or Records:
Motion Picture Studio audio-visual materials, 1964-1985
Contains film student tests, illustrations of insects, photographs, negatives, and slides from the Motion Picture Studio. Include images of campus life and studio productions. Materials date from between approximately 1964 and 1985.
Motion Picture Studio collection
Contains 91 film and audio reels produced by the Brigham Young University Motion Picture Studio. These reels include footage and/or recordings from Geneva Steel from 1955-72 and various church productions and events. Dated after 1953.
Motion Picture Studio collection for Portrait of a Prophet
Contains photographs for the production of the film Portrait of a Prophet from the Motion Picture Studio. Includes images from the life of David O. McKay. Materials date from between 1873 and 1967.
Motion Picture Studio collection of historic university footage
Contains historic footage of Brigham Young University covering a wide range of themes and events. Mingled with the footage of Brigham Young University are various other footage samples related to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Utah. Dates range from 1946 to 1976.
Motion Picture Studio flip chart
Flip chart describes the facilities of the Motion Picture Studio, its productions and their distribution.
Motion Picture Studio footage of Brigham Young University
Materials include 26 reels of film footage of the Brigham Young University campus. Digital copies of the film are also included in the form of 26 DVDs. Footage dates from 1949 to 1981 and is silent.
Motion Picture Studio master tapes, production records, and song directories, 1960-1994
Collection of production records (productions stored in Motion Picture Studio vault), and The Stecheson Classified Song Directory. Dated 1960-1994.
Motion Picture Studio printing elements for Man's Search for Happiness
Contains six reels: 35mm color interpositive, 35mm cyan color separation protective master, 35mm magenta color separation protective master, 35mm yellow color separation protective master, French composite 16mm magnetic soundtrack, Cantonese composite 16mm magnetic soundtrack.
Motion Picture Studio records
Contains correspondence, photographs, and other audio-visual materials concerning the Brigham Young University Motion Picture Studio. Materials date from between 1964 and 1985.