John Francis
Environmentalist, educator, artist, and author of Planetwalker. John studied filmmaking at the Philadelphia College of Art. This is his life’s journey, told from the inside.
A FEATURE FILM IN DEVELOPMENT
Planetwalker
In silence, he found his voice.
One man stops riding in cars. Then he stops speaking. What follows is an extraordinary journey of listening, perseverance, and love for the world.
BASED ON THE TRUE STORY OF DR. JOHN FRANCIS
22YEARS OF WALKING
17YEARS OF SILENCE
OneEXTRAORDINARY TRUE STORY
THE STORY
A quiet decision.
A life of change.
After witnessing a devastating oil spill in San Francisco Bay in 1971, John Francis decides to stop using motorized transportation. Faced with endless arguments about his choice, he gives up speaking, too.
He sets out across America with a backpack and a banjo. In silence, he learns to listen. He studies the natural world, earns a PhD, and discovers that caring for the Earth begins with how we treat one another.
When another major oil spill strikes Alaska and the U.S. government seeks his expertise, John faces a new question: is it time to speak again?
Planetwalker brings this journey to life as a dramatic feature about finding purpose, making connections, and choosing to act.
THE FILM’S VISION
A journey outward.
A journey within.
The filmmakers envision an intimate experience of John’s world: natural light, real locations, and the changing weather. His letters, watercolors, and banjo become ways of speaking without words.
At its heart is a hopeful question for all of us: what can one person do?
See the creative visionTHE PEOPLE BEHIND THE FILM
A story lived.
A vision shared.
Longtime friends John Francis and Roko Belic bring John’s firsthand experience and a shared commitment to telling this story.
Roko Belic
Academy Award nominee for Genghis Blues, winner of the Sundance Audience Award. His films include Happy, Dreams: Cinema of the Subconscious, and Trust Me.
Caree Davis
A filmmaker and creative producer whose work spans major film marketing campaigns. Her producing collaborations with Roko Belic include Dreams: Cinema of the Subconscious and Trust Me.
BE PART OF THE NEXT CHAPTER
Help bring
Planetwalker
to the screen.
We’re seeking support to develop this feature film and share John’s story with a wider audience. If its message speaks to you, we’d love to start a conversation.
A story of listening, kindness, and environmental responsibility can begin with a simple step. Take that step with us.
“Every moment contains the seeds
of opportunity for change.”DR. JOHN FRANCIS
Discover more of John’s story.Explore the Planetwalker documentary