Fireman's Fund Insurance Co. has joined forces with Academy Award-winning filmmaker Bill Couturié to create the concept for and produce "Into the Fire," a documentary scheduled to air on Th e History Channel on Oct. 13 and 22, 2006.
The film focuses on career and volunteer fi refi ghters from throughout the U.S., drawing attention to everyday challenges the fire service faces in an environment of shrinking resources and increasing demands. Featuring music by Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan and Dire Straits, the documentary is meant to inspire Americans to support firefighters in their own communities.
Through intimate interviews with fi refi ghters from big-city engine companies to small-town volunteer fi re departments, the film addresses why some people risk their lives to save others in a time when budget cuts and greater demands are making their jobs more challenging than ever.
"Into the Fire" is an extension of Fireman's Fund's social mission to support firefighters for safer communities. Fireman's Fund is committed to raising the nation's consciousness about the funding challenges facing the fi re service through the fi lm and its corporate giving program, Fireman's Fund Heritage.
Bill Couturié is a writer, director and producer whose past projects include everything from television advertisements to a miniseries, but he is best known for his documentary fi lms that have won him an Academy Award, numerous Emmys and many other honors. Among his honored documentary projects are "Last Letters Home: Voices of American Troops from the Battlefi elds of Iraq," "Mighty Times: Th e Legacy of Rosa Parks" and "Dear America: Letters Home from Vietnam." His fi lm "Common Th reads: Stories from the Quilt" won an Academy Award® for Best Feature Documentary in 1990. Most recently, Couturié produced and directed "Boffo! Tinseltown's Bombs and Blockbusters," which was an Offi cial Selection of the Cannes Film Festival. Th e interview was conducted by Harvey Eisner.
FIREHOUSE: How much research did you do before filming?
COUTURIÉ: I had a person from The New York Times look for news and stories. Steve Delson's book (The Fire Inside) gave us some good ideas.
FIREHOUSE: How did you pick the locations? How many firefighters were interviewed?
COUTURIÉ: There were 10 to 12 locations, from California, Colorado, Illinois, Massachusetts, New York, Washington, D.C. and Wisconsin. The documentary features stories from real firefighters from all walks of life – career and volunteer firefightersfrom urban and rural communities in every corner of the country. They reveal what a firefighter endures on a daily basis, and why they do what they do despite diminishing financial resources for equipment and training.
FIREHOUSE: Was there one story or location or firefighter that interested you more than the others?
COUTURIÉ: Rick Smith from Ipswich, MA, and Ray Caballero from Chicago. Rick's situation with people trapped, and he responded alone, was a very tough ordeal. Many firefighters from Ray's firehouse never heard the real story because he was burned while he rescued someone off duty. They listened at the front of the truck while I interviewed Ray at the rear of the truck.
FIREHOUSE: What was your intent, goals with the film?
COUTURIÉ: Most firefighters don't like to talk about what they do. They're modest. Finding the firefighters to talk was the key. Good storytellers. I was more interested in the firefighters than the fires. Not one person said it wasn't the greatest job. They are so excited to go to work. I was privileged to spend time with these firefighters and lucky to be able to tell their story.
FIREHOUSE: Was this your first involvement with the fire service?
COUTURIÉ: Yes. I saw similarities with the military. An occupation whose members go out and put their lives on the line to save civilians. I could see the kinship with soldiers.
