Chris Paicely is the founder of StoryPaced and the co-founder of Swym Good Films, a Chicago-based indie studio committed to bold, character-driven storytelling.

Chris began his storytelling career as a journalist, writing for Patch Media, Huffington Post, Chicago Parent, Uproxx, and several other publications. His love for narrative soon expanded into marketing and communications, where he served a range of organizations as a consultant before joining the Surge Institute—a national nonprofit developing leaders of color in education. During his six-year tenure, Chris rose to Vice President of Marketing, leading initiatives spanning video production, communications campaigns, annual reports, brand strategy, and full-scale website refreshes.

In 2022, Chris stepped decisively into filmmaking. With Swym Good Films, he co-directed SILK and served as writer and co-director of The Girl in the Street, both of which have earned acclaim on the festival circuit. The Girl in the Street has screened at festivals such as the Brooklyn Horror Film Festival, Vancouver Horror Show—where Shawn Roundtree Jr. won Best Lead Performance—and Fog Fest, among others. SILK has also enjoyed a strong festival run, helping cement Swym Good as an emerging force in genre filmmaking. Chris previously produced the award-winning sci-fi short ALUS, and continues to expand his creative footprint through narrative, documentary, and branded storytelling.

Through StoryPaced, Chris leads a national client portfolio that includes Chicago Public Schools, the University of Illinois Chicago, Teach For America, the Surge Institute, Goodwill, Portland Community College, and many others. His work consistently centers community, leadership, and impact—uplifting stories that might otherwise go untold.

Beyond film and client work, Chris has co-hosted several podcasts, including Survivor’s ED, Your Favorite Movie is Racist, and Unpainted. He holds a Master of Science in Journalism from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism and a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies from Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis.

He is a devoted husband and father to three brilliant young men, grounding all his creative work in purpose, love, and possibility.

See some of Chris’ past work below.