Biography

Robert W. Stum was head cinematographer at the Brigham Young University Motion Picture Studio for many years, beginning almost from its inception when he was learning his craft on the job. He had become a keen photographer while in high school and attending college at BYU (taking art classes) and then studied photography at the Art Center in Los Angeles. In the late 1940s he was working as a professional photographer in the Los Angeles area when he became involved with films co-produced for the LDS church by Eric Larson and Judge Whitaker both using their spare time away from "Walt Disney Pictures [us]". Bob also volunteered his time taking stills of the film crew at work on two films that were made to explain the welfare programs of the LDS (Mormon) Church. Moving to Provo, Utah, Bob was a partner in Biddulph Stum Photography when Judge asked him to fill in for Frank S. Wise doing camera work on a film entitled 'The Bishop' that was underway in 1954 (Judge founded the BYU Motion Picture studio in 1953). Frank had been the first professional to join the BYU Studio staff, and had also been the cinematographer on the earlier welfare films. Bob's initial sound-stage work came on a three camera operation for 'The Story of Chamber Music' when Frank found that trying operate one camera by remote control and the others himself was not proving satisfactory. Bob was called in to help out again. After this Bob started spending half days at BYU, but finally a manager was hired for his portrait studio and he joined the staff full time as Frank Wise started to devote most of his time to film editing (and some occasional script writing). As the studio's films became more ambitious, Judge decided to bring in experienced cinematographers temporarily, in a large part to tutor Bob in the craft. Bob would later say that he cherished these experiences as much as any he had at the studio, as they helped him to be "launched in the right way" in cinematography.

John W. Boyle was a veteran of many films such as Madame Du Barry (1917) and Jack London (1943) when he assumed the post of director of photography with Bob as his assistant on one film. Glen MacWilliams who photographed Lifeboat (1944) for Alfred Hitchcock fulfilled a similar role on the 50 min. drama "How Near to the Angels". Judge later said that Bob's extensive experience as a still cameraman, his natural ability, and his experience with lighting helped him to adapt quickly to motion picture techniques.

Bob filmed some 140 motion pictures for the BYU studio, including Johnny Lingo (1969), Windows of Heaven (1963), and 'Man's Search for Happiness (1965)'. He also shot the independent feature Seven Alone (1974). Looking back decades later, Judge would call him one of the "towers of strength" during his years as the head of the studio, along with Frank S. Wise, and Judge's brother Scott Whitaker. He said that Bob was "almost as talented in designing and building some of our earlier sets as he was with the camera." Bob served twice with his wife as a missionary for the LDS Church. In 1981 he received the National Award for outstanding service to professional photography from the Professional Photographers of America.
- IMDb mini biography by: Brian Greenhalgh

Commenting on filming 'The Bishop' in 1954; "I shot, I believe, two scenes on that. They handed me a Bell and Howell camera, and I didn't know a Bell and Howell from the back of my head. I managed to struggle through that, learning how to load it, and managed to satisfy the particular needs that they had."