“Code 3” — the action-comedy centered on a paramedic’s life in crisis — hits select theaters this week, and co-writer Patrick Pianezza joins Better Every Shift to detail the behind-the-scenes movie magic that transformed his real-life EMS experiences into an independent film starring Rainn Wilson, Lil Rel Howery and Aimee Carrero. Pianezza, who also served as a volunteer firefighter, shares his process capturing both the pressures and the humanity of EMS work — all wrapped in some seriously dark humor — plus all this:

• The scene he loves that didn’t make the movie

• The “Usual Suspects” moment that shifted the tone

• His push to “go darker” with the humor

• The medical scene they had to get right — his moviemaking “hill to die on”

Read more about Code 3: Why ‘Code 3’ might be the most honest EMS film yet

This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by TheFireStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting TheFireStore.

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