Chris Bell

Dr. Chris Bell is a consultant who helps writers, directors, and studios improve their storytelling. He has a master’s degree in screenwriting and a PhD in media studies. He focuses on helping creators add diversity and inclusion to their stories in a way that feels natural and meaningful. His expertise includes gender, race, and class in media, as well as character development and story structure.

Before becoming a consultant, Bell was a tenured professor at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs for over 11 years. He is an award-winning scholar and a frequent keynote speaker. He has also served on advisory boards for the University of Colorado, the National Science Foundation, and several nonprofit organizations. His work focuses on moving diversity in storytelling beyond just “checking a box” and making it a real, meaningful part of storytelling.

Bell has also consulted on major projects, including Pixar’s Onward and Soul and Skydance Animation’s Luck, Spellbound, Pookoo, and WondLA. He has also worked on Skydance Interactive’s upcoming video game featuring Black Panther and Captain America. Alongside his consulting work, he is a professor at Roberts Wesleyan University, where he teaches online courses on media and storytelling.

At Responsive Conference 2025, Bell will highlight why storytelling is a skill that can be learned, practiced, and improved. He’ll explain how organizations can use storytelling to adapt and thrive in an uncertain world. He will also lead exercises to help attendees apply storytelling techniques in real-world business situations, from leadership to sales to team collaboration.