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 28 Collections and/or Records:
"How Rare a Possession" : a behind-the-scene look at the conversion of Vincenzo di Francesca and the LDS movie
Contains material related to the Motion Picture Studio Production of "How Rare a Possession: The Book of Mormon." Contains a script and correspondence about the production.
David Kent Jacobs collection on Mormon films
KBYU and Press audio-visual materials, 1973-1988
Collection of audio-visual materials concerning the Press and KBYU. Dated 1973-1988.
Motion Picture Studio administrative records, 1968-1987
Contains administrative correspondence related to projects involving the Motion Picture Studio. Materials date from between 1968 and 1987.
Motion Picture Studio audio-visual materials
Contains audio-visual materials produced by the Motion Picture Studio. Includes materials concerning recruiting, library research, academic colleges and departments, business, KBYU and the press, Brigham Young University administration, history, and social and student life. The collection also includes master tapes, production records, song directories and use-copy DVDs for the collection, from 1971 to 1999.
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 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.