The Last Repair Shop is an Oscar-nominated short film created by Ben Proudfoot, a Canadian documentary filmmaker and entrepreneur. Proudfoot, born in the Halifax Regional Municipality, Canada, is an award-winning documentarian and the Editor-in-chief for Breakwater Studios.
Proudfoot released his 40-minute short film in late 2023 with co-producer Kris Bowers. The Last Repair Shop features Paty Morneo, Steve Bagmanyan, as well as Dana Atkinson. The documentary follows the story of four repair shop personnel as they describe what their lives were like before they found their career.
These four repair shop workers fix instruments for the Los Angeles Unified School District. The Los Angeles Unified School District offers free instruments for students, which is one of the most impactful details of the documentary.
These workers keep up with over 80,000 children’s instruments, which leads them to connect with children and help them find their love for the arts. “It’s like a secret communication between the kid and myself. What kind of story that instrument can tell me if he could talk to me?” Says Morneo.
This film was presented during the National High School Journalism Convention in Seattle, Washington on April 26, where students and staff were able to attend a showing of the short film for free. Proudfoot was introduced after the screening to discuss the film with High School Journalists reporters and photographers.
The Last Repair Shop is a film that discusses the impact instruments have on not only students but adults as well. “If I didn’t have my violin from school, I don’t know what I would do. Don’t even jinx me like that.” Says an anonymous student.
Through sound, visuals and storytelling, Proudfoot created a moving piece that focuses on life’s hardships and how music can combat hard moments such as depression, social anxiety, poverty, as well as war.
The Last Repair Shop and the impact of Proudfoot’s work has given the world a better perspective on not only students who are involved in the arts, but the individuals who work closely with those students to help make those ambitions come true.
