Opened in 1953, the LDS Motion Picture Studio (MPS), previously known as the BYU Motion Picture Studio, has been the primary setting of films for BYU and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for decades. The formal separation of the studio from Brigham Young University happened in 1991 when the studio came under the operation of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The films produced by the studio were for “missionary work, education purposes, home and family use, and other Church related purposes.”
\nWhen the studio opened, Ernest L. Wilkinson was the president of BYU and Wetzel Whitaker was appointed as the studio’s first director. While some of the films created were privately funded, most were funded by the Church and the university. Some films created included a 10-minute film in 1957 named “On Your Honor” and depicted the honor code in an effort to explain it better to students. In 1976, a film was created on the gospel of Jesus Christ throughout time. The BYU Motion Picture Studio has even produced some award-winning films. In 1973, in the 21st Annual Columbus International Film Festival held in Ohio, “Run Dick, Run Jan,” a film about health and physical fitness made by the BYU Motion Picture Studio, won the Chris Plaque in the health and medicine category. It was the second award that BYU had won at the festival, with the previous one being in 1967 for “Love is for the Birds.” In 1989, “A More Perfect Union: American Becomes a Nation” was created in the studio about the US Constitution. The film experienced great popularity and won an Emmy for the best cultural docu-drama. The studio also held writing workshops for future screenwriters and other events for the public. For example, the studio hosted “Christmas Hour” which became roaringly popular for community members. In 1962, the Three D’s—a popular Church music band—were featured in the program. Additionally, the studio frequently advertised in the student newspapers for actors.
\nThe Motion Picture Studio has also experienced numerous damages through the years. In 1964, a fire—said to be the worst in Utah County history—damaged equipment and a section of the studio, costing the school $500,000. Later, in 1969, a falling truss created considerable damage to the building. In 2014, another fire began, fifty years after the first, caused by the explosion of an electrical box on the top of the studio. The studio has nevertheless persisted and is now in its 70th year. In 1975, one BYU student wrote an article in the Daily Universe, where they cited the BYU Motion Picture Studio as proof of the potential of the university. While BYU is no longer over the MPS, the sentiment continues to ring clear as the studio expands and progresses.
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","“BYU films win honors.” Daily Universe. November 29, 1973. https://archive.org/details/dailyuniverse2663asso/page/n1/mode/1up?q=\"motion+picture\"
","“BYU Motion Picture Studio to have new addition this fall.” Daily Universe. July 23, 1975 https://archive.org/details/dailyuniverse28162asso/page/n13/mode/1up?q=\"motion+picture+studio\"
","“BYU Studio Produces Sunday School Film.” Daily Universe. December 2, 1969. https://archive.org/details/dailyuniverse2251asso/page/n5/mode/2up?q=%22motion+picture+studio%22
","Hayden, Janet. “’A More Perfect Union’ to air again.” Daily Universe. July 3, 1991. https://archive.org/details/dailyuniverse44173prov/page/n7/mode/1up?q=\"motion+picture\"
","“Motion Picture Studio Produces Film on BYU Honor Council.” Daily Universe. May 9, 1957. https://archive.org/details/brighamyounguniv9142asso/mode/1up?q=\"motion+picture\"
","“Movie Dept. ‘Goes Hollywood.’” Daily Universe. April 16, 1958. https://archive.org/details/brighamyounguniv10125asso/mode/1up?q=\"motion+picture\"
","“Reconstruction of Gutted Picture Studio Planned.” Daily Universe. September 18, 1964. https://archive.org/details/dailyuniverse172asso/mode/1up?q=\"motion+picture\"
","“Roof Truss Collapses At Studio.” Daily Universe. April 14, 1969. https://archive.org/details/dailyuniverse21124asso/mode/2up?q=%22motion+picture+studio%22
","“Students expound views in Letters to the Editor.” Daily Universe. February 14, 1975. https://archive.org/details/dailyuniverse28102asso/page/n11/mode/1up?q=\"motion+picture\"
","“Studio needs actors.” Daily Universe. July 18, 1961. https://archive.org/details/dailyuniverse13167asso/page/n1/mode/1up?q=\"motion+picture\"
","“Transportation Set For Christmas Hour.” Daily Universe. November 27, 1962. https://archive.org/details/dailyuniverse1546asso/page/n3/mode/1up?q=\"motion+picture\"
"],"factoids":[],"files":{"https://www.intermountainhistories.org/files/fullsize/a078011b5f66d28934a907c38221cfb6.jpg":{"id":3276,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"The Motion Picture Studio","description":"\"[Motion Picture Studio, ca. 1959].\" 1959. Brigham Young University : 1000 views of 100 years. Public Domain, Courtesy University Archives, L. Tom Perry Special Collections, Harold B. Lee Library, Brigham Young University. https://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/digital/collection/BYUPhotos/id/638/rec/1","thumbnail":"https://www.intermountainhistories.org/files/square_thumbnails/a078011b5f66d28934a907c38221cfb6.jpg"},"https://www.intermountainhistories.org/files/fullsize/9b27f27e2f8f1786df85542c0349274a.jpg":{"id":3277,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Wetzel O. Whitaker","description":"The first director of the Motion Picture Studio. | \"[Wetzel O. Whitaker, driector of the Motion Picture Studio, ca. 1953].\" 1953. Brigham Young University : 1000 views of 100 years. Public Domain, Courtesy University Archives, L. Tom Perry Special Collections, Harold B. Lee Library, Brigham Young University. https://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/digital/collection/BYUPhotos/id/637/rec/2","thumbnail":"https://www.intermountainhistories.org/files/square_thumbnails/9b27f27e2f8f1786df85542c0349274a.jpg"},"https://www.intermountainhistories.org/files/fullsize/f56fe60864b48cef20d0ea16bb9ad2fa.jpg":{"id":3278,"mime-type":"image/png","title":"A Look Inside the Studio","description":"\"BYU MPS Sound Stage.\" 1950-1959. Brigham Young University. News Bureau. Via Wikimedia Commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:BYU_MPS_Sound_Stage.png","thumbnail":"https://www.intermountainhistories.org/files/square_thumbnails/f56fe60864b48cef20d0ea16bb9ad2fa.jpg"}}}