Welcome to The Last Bookstore

By Chad HowittJuly 21, 2016

Fearlessness. That’s what it took for Josh Spencer to open The Last Bookstore, a refuge for book-lovers in Downtown Los Angeles. At a time when other book sellers were closing their doors, he discovered that the digital age might have made print books even more popular than ever. This short documentary by director Chad Howitt tells Josh’s story of learning to thrive when faced with adversity and loss. Find out how an independent bookstore quickly became one of LA's beloved institutions.

LARB Contributor

A Los Angeles native, Chad Howitt didn’t have a traditional filmmaker’s pedigree or training. His initial exposure to art and media came from spending his teenage years working at video stores, record shops, and tattoo parlors. After graduating from the Art Center College of Design, he went on to work at world class companies such as Psyop, Motion Theory, and Sony Imageworks.

Utilizing his post-production background, he creates spots that are narratively driven, and visually dramatic. His clients include companies such as Volkswagen, Google, Nike, Honda, Marvel, The Grammys, and Skullcandy.

His latest documentary short, “Welcome to The Last Bookstore” has won several awards, and is currently in competition in festivals around the US, including this year’s Cinequest.

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