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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 37 Collections and/or Records:

Morality for youth / [Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints], 1982

 Sub-Series — Box 1: Series 3 [Barcode: 31197235218689], disk: 23
Identifier: UA 5625 Series 3 Sub-Series 10
Scope and Contents

Film was released in 1982, and was produced by Brigham Young University Motion Picture Department for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The story focuses on an analogy between a rafting trip and the dangers of sexual immorality. The collection has one copy of the film on a film reel. Dated 1982.

Dates: 1982

Motion Picture Studio audio-visual materials

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 940
Scope and Contents

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.

Dates: 1960-1999

Motion Picture Studio footage of Brigham Young University

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 1287
Scope and Contents

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.

Dates: 1949-1981

Motion Picture Studio master tapes, production records, and song directories, 1960-1994

 Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 940 Series 7
Scope and Contents

Collection of production records (productions stored in Motion Picture Studio vault), and The Stecheson Classified Song Directory. Dated 1960-1994.

Dates: 1960-1994

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

No more a stranger / [Brigham Young University] ; [producer, Wetzel O. Whitaker] ; [screenplay, Scott Whitaker], 1964

 Sub-Series — Box 1: Series 3 [Barcode: 31197235218689], disk: 22
Identifier: UA 5625 Series 3 Sub-Series 9
Scope and Contents

Film was released in 1964, and was produced by the Brigham Young University Motion Picture Department for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The story focuses on the reception of a new family into a ward. The collection has one copy of the film on a film reel. Dated 1964.

Dates: 1964

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

Restoration of the Priesthood / [The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints] ; [producer, Jesse E. Stay] ; [director, Peter Johnson], 1982

 Sub-Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 5625 Series 3 Sub-Series 7
Scope and Contents Film was released in 1982, and was produced by Brigham Young University Motion Picture Department for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It depicts the events surrounding the early days of the Church and Joseph Smith concerning the restoration of the priesthood through heavenly messengers. The film was largely shot on location of the actual events in New York and Pennsylvania. The collection contains a DVD copy of three copies on film reels, and a "Moments from Church History"...
Dates: 1982

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