The Man Who Loved Trees

Producer: John N. Campbell

A story of open space preservation in Montgomery County, recalling the extraordinary efforts of Peter Schlotterer, who during his lifetime dedicated himself to preserving open space in his community, at times assuming great financial risk. Told through interviews with his friends and associates, Peter's love of nature and his enduring legacy are revealed.

John N. Campbell is an independent filmmaker who graduated from the Experimental Animation program at California Institute of the Arts in 1993 where he studied under Jules Engel, Betzy Bromberg, Maureen Selwood and Christine Panushka. In the mid-1990's he worked in the burgeoning field of digital effects at Robert Blalack's Praxis Filmworks studio. He has produced dozens of films and videos many of which have screened at major film festivals including Ann Arbor, Vilo do Conde, 25fps, Black Maria, Humboldt and Big Muddy. In 2008, he received the award for Best Cinematography at the 46th Ann Arbor Film Festival for his experimental film, Li: The Patterns of Nature" He received the Director's Choice Award at the 15th Black Maria Film Festival for an experimental animated film, Form and Void. Known for his use of unusual cinematographic techniques, he often employs time-lapsed photography, microscopy, kirlian imaging and cymatic imaging technology in his films that are described as painterly, inquisitive and visionary. His most recent work has focused on the documentary genre.