Los Angeles is one of the last American cities to provide free music instruments to its students. But what happens when those instruments need to be restored, repaired, and brought into good working order? Ben Proudfoot and Kris Bowers’ Oscar-nominated documentary short The Last Repair Shop ventures into the DTLA workshop to meet the craftspeople who work on these instruments—and the students who play them.
Watch "The Last Repair Shop"| 2024 Oscar-Nominated Documentary Short
We share in the LA Phil’s dedication to investing in instrumental music for all young people and hope that "The Last Repair Shop" can help shed a light on Los Angeles’ unique commitment to putting instruments in the hands of every student
Proudfoot and Bowers’ previous collaboration was also nominated for an Oscar. A Concerto is a Conversation traced Bowers’ journey from his family in Mississippi to the Walt Disney Concert Hall stage, where he premiered his concerto For A Younger Self in February 2020.
“This film would not exist without the early support and encouragement of the LA Phil, who inspired Kris Bowers and me to make films about the intersection of LA and music,” Proudfoot says. “We share in the LA Phil’s dedication to investing in instrumental music for all young people and hope that The Last Repair Shop can help shed a light on Los Angeles’ unique commitment to putting instruments in the hands of every student.”