Welcome to Episode 115 of The Filmumentaries Podcast. I’m Jamie Benning, and this week I’m talking to John Bell, a concept artist and art director whose career has spanned some of the most memorable films of the last four decades. From Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home to Jurassic Park and Back to the Future II and III, John’s work has left a significant mark on cinema.
In our conversation, John takes us back to the early days of his career, when he transitioned from designing cars at General Motors to creating video game concepts at Atari, before finally finding his way into the film industry. He shares the story of how a speculative portfolio sent to ILM eventually opened the door to a career that included working alongside legends like Nilo Rodis-Jamero and Ken Ralston.
We talk in depth about his work on Back to the Future II, where he imagined a future Hill Valley steeped in a mix of Americana and 1980s aesthetics, and Jurassic Park, where he brought bold, colorful designs to vehicles, props, and even the park’s iconic branding. John also reflects on how collaboration is at the heart of filmmaking, with directors like Steven Spielberg and production designers like Rick Carter encouraging his input while shaping the look and feel of these projects.
We also cover his time working on Antz at DreamWorks, where he stepped into the role of production designer for the first time, and Rango, ILM’s first animated feature. Throughout, John shares his approach to balancing creativity and problem-solving, and the importance of pulling inspiration from both his surroundings and his past experiences.
It’s a wide-ranging discussion that touches on everything from the challenges of designing for science fiction, fantasy, and animation to how the industry has changed over the years. I hope you enjoy it.
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