"When one thinks of the San Diego film industry, Wally Schlotter should immediately come to mind. Schlotter, who is vice president of special projects for UltraStar Cinemas, chairman of the San Diego Film Festival, and executive producer of the iVIE Festival and Awards (among other things), is one of the great minds and mentors for anyone interested in film."...
"FILM: "The $5 Movie," a San Diego based American Dream Cinema, 15-minute film, will have its commercial debut today, opening with the big musical "Moulin Rouge" at the Ultra Star Flower Hill multiplex in Del Mar."...
"It's easy to tell when Wally Schlotter is happy. He revs up to 78 rpm from his usual 33 1/3. And lately he's been at full tilt for good reason. Schlotter has arrived early at his 16th-floor office in the Chamber building in the heart of downtown. At the moment he's busy answering questions fired at him by a crusty, no-nonsense producer who is about to bring his next movie to San Diego."...
Film and TV production is helping San Diego struggle through California's economic doldrums. Production companies spent $31 million in San Diego County in 1992-93. That is up from $27.2 million the year before, & is more than three times what the county earned in production dollars in 1990-91. "It's been phenomenal, way beyond what we projected," says Wally Schlotter, the city's film commissioner.
Under a plan approved by President Gil Partida and the chamber directors' committee, the various divisions have been divided into two groups -- one headed by Max Schetter, who takes on the new title of executive vice president, and the other by Wally Schlotter, who was promoted to senior vice president."
After nearly two decades at the helm of San Diego's film commission, many San Diegans saw it as the end of a road. Burnout. Wally Schlotter saw it as the beginning. 'The film commission had reached maturity,' he says. 'It seemed a good time to go from the proven to the unknown.' Schlotter knew this much about the unknown: It would involve consulting and charity work.
"Wally Schlotter's recent abrupt resignation as chairman of San Diego's Film Commission floored many who were close to the Chamber of Commerce senior VP. He'd been moving up the Chamber's corporate ladder, and the Film Commission was stronger than ever. There were the inevitable rumors Schlotter had been fired. (Nobody leaves a position like that without the next job lined up, do they?)
"'IF YOU STAGE IT, THEY WILL COME...' That, in so many words, is what Mel Katz told Wally Schlotter three years ago after Katz came up with the idea of hosting a symposium in San Diego to feature the day's top newsmakers. The motive: to showcase San Diego as a world-class destination worthy of attracting a field of dreams in politics, journalism and the arts."
I would like to nominate Wally Schlotter to be inducted into the San Diego Chapter's Silver Circle: In 1973, seeking a degree in television and radio while attending SDSU, Wally also had the energy to freelance in the business as an assistant to executive producer's for NBC's "Police Story" and in positions work on national and local commercials for Columbia Pictures and at KPBS."
"Wally: I hope all is well with you -- I'm sure you're as busy as ever, but there's always time for kudos, right? I'm pleased to report that Phillips-Ramsey, the San Diego Chamber of Commerce,
and the City of San Diego are the proud recipients of an Award of Excellence from the Creative Show of San Diego. Judged recently in a joint operation of the AdClub and Communicating Arts Group, our combined effort on behalf of the newspaper advertisement created for the Tribute to Dr. Seuss was recognized for outstanding design! "