Among those enjoying their Oscar awards Monday morning was the team behind "The Last Repair Shop," the story of an LAUSD program that restores musical instruments.
The Oscar win was a validation of that, for public schools, and for the parents of one of the filmmakers.
In Mid City, the cheers were even bigger than they were in Hollywood because the only thing better than being an Oscar winner, is being the parents of one. The parents of director Kris Bowers joyously celebrated with friends and family when “The Last Repair Shop" won the Oscar for documentary short.
“It filled my heart, it's so special seeing so much of my family seeing that moment all together,” Bowers said.
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His family was beaming just as much as 12-year-old Porsche Brinker as she strolled to the stage holding her dress and commanded the stage holding her Oscar.
“This is Porsche Brinker, she’s 12 years old, she plays violin in our public schools she looks amazing tonight,” Bowers said during the Oscar statuette presentation.
No less jubilant was LA’s superintendent of schools who sent Porsche and her fellow student, 17-year-old Ismerai Lopez to the Dolby theater on a school bus rather than a limo, to remind everyone that "The Last Repair Shop" shows that public schools are still relevant and important.
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“A lot of people saw our film which was really nice to hear and there’s a lot of people who were really nice,” Lopez said.
LAUSD superintendent Alberto Carvalho said LAUSD’s music program continues to expand, with 40,000 new instruments purchased and more teachers hired.
“Los Angeles loves its public schools, loves its students and the 'Last Repair Shop' demonstrates that, Carvallho said. And now there are two gold statues to prove it.
