Slottje was ill as an adolescent, which originally inspired him to use storytelling as a personal outlet, and write and direct the short film, 'Casey Culpepper.' The film was an official selection at the 49th Telluride Film Festival, and at Panic Fest 2022, where it was awarded Best Short Film, Best Director, and Best Actress. The feature version of ‘Casey Culpepper’ was one of only five scripted projects selected for the 2022 Sundance Producers Lab, and was a finalist in the Screamfest 2021 Screenplay competition. Slottje’s work as a writer and director has screened at leading film festivals around the world, including Aspen ShortsFest, Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival, Palm Springs International ShortFest, Salem Horror Film Festival, Screamfest Film Festival, and Telluride Film Festival. Slottje earned his M.F.A. in Screenwriting and Directing from Columbia University in the City of New York.