Bob Jones University

===''Unusual Films''===
Both [[Bob Jones Sr.]] and [[Bob Jones Jr.]] believed that [[film]] could be an excellent medium for mass evangelism, and in 1950, the university established ''Unusual Films'' within the School of Fine Arts.<ref>{{cite book|last=Turner|first=Daniel|title=Standing Without Apology: The History of Bob Jones University|pages=196–197}}</ref> (The studio name derives from a former BJU promotional slogan, "The World's Most Unusual University".)<ref>{{cite book|last=Turner|first=Daniel|title=Standing Without Apology: The History of Bob Jones University|page=143}}</ref> [[Bob Jones Jr.]] selected a speech teacher, [[Katherine Stenholm]], as the first director. Although she had no experience in cinema, she took summer courses at the [[University of Southern California]] and received personal instruction from Hollywood specialists, such as [[Rudolph Sternad]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Turner|first=Daniel|title=Standing Without Apology: The History of Bob Jones University|pages=196–199}}; [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0827889/ biographical information on Sternad]</ref>

Unusual Films has produced seven feature-length films, each with an evangelistic emphasis: ''Wine of Morning'', ''Red Runs the River'', ''Flame in the Wind'', ''Sheffey'', ''Beyond the Night'', ''The Printing'', and ''Milltown Pride''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bjupress.com/nav/category/Unusual%20Films%20Productions?parent_category_rn=281459|title=Videos – BJU Press|work=bjupress.com|access-date=June 14, 2015}}{{Dead link|date=February 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> ''Wine of Morning'' (1955), based on a novel by Bob Jones Jr., represented the United States at the [[Cannes Film Festival]].<ref>"''Wine of Morning'' was selected by the University Film Producers Association to represent the United States at the International Congress of Motion Picture and Television Schools in Cannes, France, and following a showing at the Congress, garnered praise from the international film community. ''Wine of Morning'' was also awarded four 'Christian Oscars' from the National Evangelical Film Foundation for Best Film, Best Actor, Best Director, and Best Producer." {{cite book|last=Turner|first=Daniel|title=Standing Without Apology: The History of Bob Jones University|page=198}}. There may have been some [[Cold War]] posturing involved in this film's nomination. The president of the UFPA wrote to Stenholm that the "excellence of your production, ''Wine of Morning''...will provide the high quality which it is desirable to use in these international showings. We feel that the contrast between your film with its religious background and [the Russian entry] would be most revealing and that the contrast would reflect credit on our way of life." ("Bob Jones Religious Film To Represent US Colleges", ''The (Columbia, SC) State'', May 2, 1958, 12C).</ref> The first four films are historical dramas set, respectively, in the time of Christ, the U.S. Civil War, 16th-century Spain, and the late 19th-century South—the latter a fictionalized treatment of the life of Methodist evangelist, [[Robert Sheffey|Robert Sayers Sheffey]]. ''Beyond the Night'' closely follows an actual 20th-century missionary saga in Central Africa, and ''The Printing'' uses composite characters to portray the persecution of believers in the former [[Soviet Union]]. According to [[The Dove Foundation]], ''The Printing'' "no doubt will urge Christian believers everywhere to appreciate the freedoms they enjoy. It is inspiring!" <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dove.org/review/8704-the-printing/|title=The Printing – Dove Family Friendly Movie Reviews|website=dove.org}}</ref> In 1999, Unusual Films began producing feature films for children, including ''The Treasure Map'',<ref>{{cite web|title=The Treasure Map|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2335886/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1|publisher=IMDb.com|access-date=January 21, 2014}}</ref> ''Project Dinosaur'',<ref>{{cite web|title=Project Dinosaur|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3204902/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1|publisher=IMDb.com|access-date=January 21, 2014}}</ref> and ''Appalachian Trial''.<!-- Not a typo. --><ref>{{cite web|title=Appalachian Trial|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0467386/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1|publisher=IMDb.com|access-date=January 21, 2014}}</ref> They also released a short animated film for children, ''The Golden Rom''.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Golden Rom|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3212502/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1|publisher=IMDb.com|access-date=January 21, 2014}}</ref> Unusual Films returned to their customary format in 2011 with their release of ''Milltown Pride'', a historical film set in 1920s upstate South Carolina.<ref>{{cite web|title=Milltown Pride|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1888554/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1|publisher=IMDb.com|access-date=January 21, 2014}}</ref>

Unusual Films also maintains a student film production program. The Film and Digital Storytelling program provides professional training in motion picture production.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.bju.edu/academics/programs/film-and-digital-storytelling/ | title=Film and Digital Storytelling, BS }}</ref> This training combines classroom instruction with hands-on experience in various areas, including directing, editing, and cinematography. Before graduation, seniors produce high-definition short films which they write, direct, and edit.<ref>{{cite book|title=Bob Jones University Undergraduate Catalog|year=2013–2014|pages=112, 193–195}}</ref>