[1] Schlotter graduated from Grossmont College with an accounting degree before majoring in film and television at San Diego State University.

[1][2] Schlotter is a former production assistant at Warner Bros.[3] At 28, he was named director of the San Diego Motion Picture and Television Bureau in 1978, succeeding Nancy Ferebee.

[6] Schlotter mentioned that costs to shooting in San Diego were diminished at locations such as the Sports Arena, compared to similar places in Los Angeles.

He and City Manager Ray Blair both agreed that such a production would not be a good idea and they did not assist filmmaker Larry Spivey with further options.

[10] When location scouting for Top Gun, Schlotter described working with Officer Alan Clark to fix parking meter violations so they would not disrupt a deal that brought in $2 million of revenue to the county.