Paramedic Documentary "Into the Unknown" Nearing Release

Director of the popular Detroit Fire Department documentaries “BURN” and “BURN X,” Tom Putnam has developed a film focused on the world of paramedics titled “Into the Unknown.”

The 90-minute documentary premieres in select theaters this fall, offering a firsthand view of the challenges paramedics across the United States face daily. From vivid footage of harrowing calls to the detailed impact on their mental health, the film is an intense, comprehensive account that took over six years to produce.

“To see emotionally what these folks go through, I've never seen anything like it,” Putnam told Firehouse.

Putnam joined the project a few years after its conception, collaborating seamlessly with producer Steve Martin and executive producers Randolph Mantooth and Kevin Tighe, from the show "Emergency!" and former FDNY firefighter-turned-actor Steve Buscemi.

“When Steve [Martin] and the other producers connected with me on it, it was a total no-brainer to tell this story, because when 'BURN' came out, a lot of people didn't really know what firefighting entailed,” Putnam stated. “This is a way to show people the real deal.”

The documentary expands beyond paramedics, capturing the perspectives of dispatchers—the first to address 9-1-1 emergencies—and collaborating with the Chiron Center in Grants Pass, OR, a leader in trauma-informed care, to spotlight mental health.

“Throughout my career, I’ve been fortunate to work across a wide range of film and television projects, but this one stands apart because of its authenticity,” Tighe remarked. “There is no character to hide behind here—only real stories, real experiences, and real consequences. That makes it both humbling and profoundly meaningful.”

“Our experience on the film and the film itself are very hopeful stories, and we showed the pressures of the job, but we also showed how every single person dealt with it, and how they've come through it stronger, better care providers and better people as a result,” Putnam said.

The three main goals of the film were to honor those who do the job, educate family members and the general public about what paramedics go through and open the eyes of the new generation to the profession.

“Action is the backdrop to the story,” Martin told Firehouse. “It's about the people. We really wanted to highlight the people that are out there getting their asses kicked on the line day after day after day.”

The film crew followed a diverse set of paramedics in San Bernardino, CA, Baton Rouge, LA, and rural parts of Virginia. That’s not the only diversity that is portrayed in the movie.

“We've got a pretty diverse cast,” Martin said. “Diverse as where they're located geographically in the United States, to the department types that they work for, and just the people themselves.”

Remarkably, the film’s production lacks outside financial backing. The team raised funds independently, produced the movie on their own and will manage its release. A Kickstarter campaign aims to fund the film's release in 80 countries, securing the wide release it deserves.

“It's not just about raising the money for the film, but about getting people really amped to see the film and feel like it's their film too,” Putnam said. “Whether you donate $5 or $5,000, it's your movie too.”

The project highlights those who do the work daily, yet receive little recognition. It closely follows paramedics and dispatchers, supporting people in what may be the worst moments of their lives, day or night. The film is genuine, emotional and deeply moving.

“I walked away even more convinced that these men and women deserve greater recognition and support,” Mantooth told Firehouse. “They’re often the first people we see on our worst day, and they show up every time without hesitation. That’s something pretty extraordinary.”