Code 3 (2025) is a high-energy action comedy directed by Christopher Leone.
The film follows Randy (Rainn Wilson), a burnt-out paramedic on the verge of quitting, who must endure one final 24-hour shift to train his replacement, Jessica (Lil Rel Howery). What begins as a routine day spirals into a chaotic, emotionally charged ride through the extremes of emergency response—complete with absurd calls, unexpected heroics, and moments of raw humanity.
Code 3 was inspired by the lived experiences of Patrick Pianezza, a former paramedic who co-wrote the script with director Christopher Leone.
“I’ve known Cris for about 15 years. Even in early drafts, he could pinpoint a problem and break it down so I could improve it. Part of that was helping me grow as a writer, and part was his outsider perspective — he’d never been in an ambulance. Everything we wrote was filtered through: Does this move the story forward? Does it make sense for the characters? On set, our collaboration was friendly and collegial. Anything artistic was Chris’s domain, anything medical was mine,” says Pianezza.
Pianezza’s firsthand knowledge of the chaos, camaraderie, and emotional toll of emergency medical work shaped the film’s tone and authenticity.
Patrick Pianezza’s years as a paramedic serve as the emotional and narrative engine of Code 3.
His shift stories, chaotic, humorous, and sometimes soul-wrenching, were the film’s first sparks, written down initially as a short story in college.
The central conceit of a burnt-out medic training his replacement during one final 24-hour shift emerged from witnessing the cycles of burnout and renewal within emergency medical services, where mentorship often happens in the trenches.
Pianezza infused the screenplay with nuanced emotional truths: the gallows humour, the adrenaline fatigue, the brief and tender connections with strangers on the worst day of their lives. He remained involved throughout filming, guiding the crew and cast to ensure the pulse of real EMS work—its language, its rhythm, its weight—beat beneath every scene.
What results is a comedy steeped not just in laughs, but in lived grit, honouring those who show up again and again when the sirens call.
Rather than glamorising heroics, the story leans into the burnout, absurdity, and quiet dignity of paramedics on the edge.
It’s a buddy comedy, yes—but one that pulses with real-world grit. The filmmakers collaborated closely with EMS professionals to ensure the dialogue, scenarios, and emotional beats felt true to life.
Advice for screenwriters just starting out
“I’d say: just keep writing. Be determined, but also understand that luck plays a huge role in this business. Talent gets you in the door, but luck often decides what happens next. In my case, the ‘luck’ was having my brother. There is no world where this film exists without him. He was the one who pushed me to write the first draft, brought Chris into the project, and worked relentlessly to see it cross the finish line.
The only way to get good is to practice. Even though I hadn’t done much screenwriting, I’d written for multiple publications — writing in general keeps the craft alive. You can’t just sit down one day and suddenly write Ben-Hur. It’s iterative: you get better, you learn to recognize what isn’t working, and you develop the discipline to “murder your darlings.”
Most importantly: don’t give up. There are amazing writers out there who never got their break. I don’t claim to be Mario Puzo or Francis Ford Coppola — I got lucky. But once you get your shot, dogged determination and giving your best are everything.”
Patrick Pianezza is a writer, actor, and former paramedic whose storytelling roots trace back to central Illinois, where he was raised by immigrant parents who surrounded him with tales that sparked a vivid imagination. After earning an associate degree in Biology and completing his paramedic certification, he served as a volunteer fireman and EMT before advancing to a B.A. in Public Relations and a Master’s in Healthcare Administration. His career in emergency medical services included time as a Paramedic Crew Chief and work with Johns Hopkins Hospital’s Lifeline transport team. Since 2010, he’s held leadership roles in hospital operations and patient experience across major healthcare systems. Pianezza’s creative pivot came with Code 3, a screenplay born from his own shift stories, co-written with his mentor Christopher Leone. Fluent in Italian and humorously self-aware about his Spanish and French, he now lives in Long Beach, California, where he continues to write, podcast, and celebrate family.
Christopher Leone, is a Los Angeles–based filmmaker with a background in visual effects and CG animation. His career spans directing, writing, and producing across film, television, and digital platforms. Leone co-created and co-executive produced The Lost Room, a Syfy mini-series that earned a Writers Guild Award nomination, and directed the sci-fi feature Parallels for Fox Digital Studio. His short film K-7 screened at over 60 festivals and won multiple awards, showcasing his knack for genre storytelling with emotional depth. Leone has also directed digital series like Suit Up and Wolfpack of Reseda, and co-authored the comic We Kill Monsters. With Code 3, he brings his genre-savvy lens to a grounded buddy comedy, shaped by Pianezza’s lived EMS experience. Leone is married to Pamela Wimberly and continues to direct commercials and develop projects that blend heart, humour, and high concept.
