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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:

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

Motion Picture Studio stills

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 3737
Scope and Contents Contains photographs, slides, negatives, and contact print sheets from eight Brigham Young University Motion Picture Studio productions. Films represented in the collection include: How Rare a Possession (1987), Seeds of Destiny (1987), The Three Witnesses (1968), Restoration of the Priesthood (1982), The First Vision (1975), The Coming Forth of the Book of Mormon (undated), That They Might Have Joy (undated), and The Lost Manuscript (1974). Collection also includes a BYU football poster...
Dates: 1968-1987

Motion Picture Studio use-copy DVDs, 1971-1999

 Series — Carton 84: Series 8 [Barcode: 31197227635221]
Identifier: UA 940 Series 8
Scope and Contents

Collection of use-copy DVDs of the Brigham Young University Motion Picture Studio audio-visual materials collection. Contains DVDs of Motion Picture Studio productions, such as "Run Dick, Run Jane" Dated 1971-1999.

Dates: 1971-1999

Oral history interview with Wetzel O. Whitaker

 File — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 2968
Scope and Contents

Typescript of an interview transcribed from the included audiocassettes. Whitaker was interviewed by Thomas Cheney on July 30, 1985. Whitaker talks about his experiences in making films with the Walt Disney Company and at the Brigham Young University Motion Picture Studio.

Dates: 1985 July 30

Religious Education audio-visual materials, 1977-1995

 Sub-Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 940 Series 3 Sub-Series 9
Scope and Contents

Collection of audio-visual materials concerning Religion including the Young Women in Mormondom symposia. Dated 1977-1995.

Dates: 1977-1995

Run Dick, run Jane

 Item — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197232572740]
Identifier: UA 5703
Scope and Contents

Materials consist of a DVD of "Run Dick, Run Jane", a documentary about the benefits of exercising through running. The documentary was produced by W.O. Whittaker through the Brigham Young University Motion Picture Studio. Dated 1971.

Dates: date of production not identified

Science Department audio-visual materials, 1981-1995

 Sub-Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 940 Series 3 Sub-Series 5
Scope and Contents

Collection of audio materials from the Science and Zoology Departments, Idaho Farm Project, Women in Science II symposia, and DCLASS materials. Dated 1981-1995.

Dates: 1981-1995

University Communications files on the Media Production Studio and LDS Motion Picture Studio, 1959-1994

 Sub-Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 5395 Series 4 Sub-Series 34
Scope and Contents

Contains photographs, newspaper clippings, press releases, and lists regarding the Media Production Studio and the LDS Motion Picture studio owned by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1972 to 1994. Materials contain photographs of movies and productions produced by these studios.

Dates: 1959-1994