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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 49 Collections and/or Records:

Motion Picture Studio collection of historic university footage

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 5637
Scope and Contents

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.

Dates: 1946-1976

Motion Picture Studio flip chart

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197233236717]
Identifier: UA 850
Scope and Contents

Flip chart describes the facilities of the Motion Picture Studio, its productions and their distribution.

Dates: 1957

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 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

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

Noel B. Reynolds research files on "A More Perfect Union" , 1987-1988

 Sub-Series — Carton 5: Series 2; Series 3 [Barcode: 31197233247656], Folder: 1-12
Identifier: MSS 7935 Series 2 Sub-Series 3
Scope and Contents

Contains materials from the Brigham Young University-produced film on the U.S. Constitution, "A More Perfect Union." Materials include the script, correspondence, and research files, 1987-1988.

Dates: 1987-1988

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

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 2 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 three copies on film reels, and a "Moments from Church History" VHS containing...
Dates: 1982

The first vision : the visitation of the Father and the Son to Joseph Smith / The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints presents ; a Brigham Young University production ;, 1975-1976

 Sub-Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 5625 Series 3 Sub-Series 5
Scope and Contents Film was released in 1976, and was produced by the Brigham Young University Motion Picture Department for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It focuses on the experience of Joseph Smith in 1820 that had lead to his vision of God and Jesus Christ. The film was made for the purpose of missionary work and to be used in church visitor centers. The collection contains a DVD copy of the film, one on videocassette, one on a church history compilation VHS entitled "Moments from Church...
Dates: 1975-1976

The long road back / [Brigham Young University] ; [producer, Wetzel O. Whitaker], 1965

 Sub-Series — Reel 43: Series 2 [Barcode: 31197233634440]
Identifier: UA 5625 Series 2 Sub-Series 29
Scope and Contents

Film was released in 1965, and was produced by Brigham Young University as a gospel instructional film for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The film depicts the long road back from immorality. The collection contains one copy on a film reel.

Dates: 1965