‘Bulldozer’s Creators Reveal Their Self-Financed Sundance Comedy Collection Almost Obtained Shut Down by the Cops

The 2025 Sundance Movie Pageant hosted the premiere of Bulldozer’s pilot episode, which is borne from the collaborative effort of the Leeds siblings. Joanna Leeds created the present, and it’s straight impressed by occasions from her life, from dishonest boyfriends to the psychological pressure on a regular basis life places on an individual. As such, she naturally takes the lead position because the “undermedicated, chronically impassioned younger girl [who] lurches from disaster to disaster of her personal making.”

Although she has appeared briefly in reveals like NCIS or Superstore, Bulldozer shall be a healthy dose of pure Joanna the place her performing receives the limelight. Her brother, Andrew Leeds, takes the position of director within the present, guaranteeing her imaginative and prescient is delivered to life alongside the star-studded forged of Mary Steenburgen, Nat Faxon, Harvey Guillén, comic and actor Chris “CP” Powell, and Kate Burton.

This yr, the Leeds siblings sat with Steve Weintraub in Collider’s media studio on the Rendezvous Cinema Middle, the place they talked concerning the premiere of their pilot episode. They reveal the stresses of financing the undertaking independently with COVID disrupting their course of, getting shut down by the police and coping with on-set quirks like stunts, screaming, and cranes. Andrew Leeds additionally reminisces about his earlier roles, about how he discovered from their directing types and gained supportive connections that helped them get Bulldozer off the bottom. Hear about these filmmaking hurdles and the way they overcame them straight from the siblings within the video above, or you’ll be able to comply with alongside to the interview with the transcript under.

What Is ‘Bulldozer’s Pilot About?

“It was impressed by true occasions.”

COLLIDER: Initially, congrats on the pilot, however nobody could have seen it but. Who’s going to chunk the bullet, and clarify how you have been describing it to family and friends?

ANDREW LEEDS: She’s going to chunk that bullet.

JOANNA LEEDS: It is me, however heightened 11%. [Laughs]

ANDREW LEEDS: Or heightened 5%.

JOANNA LEEDS: I might wish to say it is heightened 80%, however realistically, it is in all probability 11%. It is impressed by true occasions.

ANDREW LEEDS: Then it goes off in its personal path, however it was impressed by true occasions. It is principally the story of an under-medicated, chronically impassioned younger girl who lurches from disaster to disaster of her personal making.

‘Bulldozer’ Portrays Psychological Well being in a Common Manner

“It is that common psychological well being disaster that we’re all experiencing.”

One of many issues about Hollywood is that there are lots of people who’re attempting to get work, and sometimes, it is folks writing themselves a job that helps get to a different stage. How a lot was that the inspiration? “I wish to write one thing simply to indicate what I can do as a result of I am humorous.”

JOANNA LEEDS: It is humorous, I do not know that I even had that endgame in thoughts. It was simply, I had to make this. I needed to write it. I needed to make it.

ANDREW LEEDS: I’ve a query for you. Do you’re feeling a part of why you probably did it was due to all of the ache that you just skilled, that the one factor that made it price it was to put in writing about it?

JOANNA LEEDS: Upon getting a long way from issues, it is sort of humorous.

ANDREW LEEDS: That is true.

In your pilot, your character goes via a relationship breakup and stuff like that. How a lot is the whole lot in it actually stuff that occurred to you?

JOANNA LEEDS: What’s cool about it’s, if any specific ex watches it, it is not about him as a result of they’ve all cheated for probably the most half, give or take a pair. So, that is good. It is a mixture of all of those males. Additionally, a part of what I wished to hit on is it has a little bit of a psychological well being aspect to it. Psychological well being in cinema often focuses on one kind of psychological sickness. You see OCD, you see despair, you see schizophrenia, and it has to suit right into a field. And so, with this character, it is that common psychological well being disaster that we’re all experiencing and the concept that it does not have to suit right into a field and that in the suitable, unlucky circumstances, we will all be triggered. That’s a giant portion of the present, simply the frustrations of life and the injustices and attempting to plow or bulldoze proper via them.

ANDREW LEEDS: I additionally assume that a part of what the present finally is about is her attempting to know who she is and what it’s that causes her to behave the best way she behaves, whether or not it’s psychological sickness or whether or not it’s bodily sickness, or whether or not it’s, “I’m only a human being and I put on my coronary heart on my sleeve a little bit bit greater than different folks.”

JOANNA LEEDS: And why life is so arduous. Like, it is so arduous and it is exhausting.

Andrew Leeds Discusses the Help of His Earlier Colleagues

From Invoice Hader to Hugh Laurie, Leeds has discovered quite a bit through the years.

[Andrew], you could have labored as an actor on 1,000 issues. Particularly, I’ll shoutout Barry. What did you be taught within the totally different reveals that you have labored on and the totally different roles that you just have been mentally remembering, “For the time I get behind the digicam, I wish to do that?”

ANDREW LEEDS: I additionally wish to contact briefly on her penning this factor. I do not know what her thought course of was when it comes to what she wished to see from it, however from what I wished to see from it and why I jumped in to direct it was as a result of she’s in each single scene. She’s additionally an excellent director, and she or he’s directed her personal stuff earlier than. I felt like, and I believe she felt like, this was a giant endeavor, and it wanted an additional hand to do it. For me, it was a chance to let the world see how proficient I do know she is and all the time has been. The script was so good that I might love to have the ability to assist carry this to life.

What was nice is that I’ve had the chance to be on some very, excellent reveals, and I’ve discovered quite a bit watching, whether or not it is Invoice Hader or Alec Berg on Barry or Michael Showalter on The Dropout or any variety of nice administrators that I’ve had the chance to work with. Our DP, [Michelle Lawler], was the DP on The Dropout. I acquired to type of accumulate folks as I went alongside, and actors as effectively. This forged is wonderful. During the last 5 years, I’ve labored with some wonderful folks, and what was so cool is that I acquired to provide them her script, and it is so uncommon that individuals simply say, “No matter you want.” They don’t seem to be going to do it until they find it irresistible. And she or he wrote an excellent script and other people have been like, “I am going to present up”. We’re very fortunate to have a ton of wonderful folks.

Simply name-drop just a few of the folks.

ANDREW LEEDS: Mary Steenburgen, Nat Faxon, Allen Leech and Harvey Guillén, Kate Burton, Tim Bagley, and comic Chris “CP” Powell.

As I used to be watching, I used to be like, “Oh, Jesus.”

JOANNA LEEDS: We have been so fortunate.

It was like a assassin’s row of individuals within the pilot.

ANDREW LEEDS: All of them simply principally volunteered. They confirmed up. Mary Steenburgen had her personal wig. She was like, “I am going to do it, however I wish to put on a wig. Can I’ve one made?” And I used to be like, “Nicely, I really feel unhealthy.” She’s like, “No, I wish to do it.” And she or he did it. As we’re taking pictures it, actually the day that she’s there, as a result of we’re doing this for no cash, as we’re getting her protection, the cops got here to this home. They’re attempting to kick us out. They’re attempting to bust down the door. My manufacturing designer’s holding onto the door whereas I am simply rolling on her simply earlier than we get kicked out. Ultimately, we did get kicked out.

JOANNA LEEDS: However then one of the best half is likely one of the officers mentioned, “Is that Mary Steenburgen?” He goes, “She’s sizzling.” I used to be like, “Oh, effectively, if we allow you to speak to her, may we keep?” and he is like, “No.” [Laughs]

The Cops Kicked ‘Bulldozer’s Crew Out

Even the police cannot shut this manufacturing down!

I’ve to ask, what occurred? Did you hire one thing on Airbnb?

JOANNA LEEDS: We really had all the right permits.

ANDREW LEEDS: We had these very huge vans that the neighbors did not like, though we had the suitable permits. We realized after the truth that we must always have been capable of keep, however on the time when there are actually eight policeman saying, “We will are available and take the digicam…”

JOANNA LEEDS: And bodily take away it, which, as you realize, the insurance coverage on that…

ANDREW LEEDS: We have been like “We’re going, we’re going, we’re going.” So one after the other, folks would come out with a espresso cup and a wrench whereas I used to be nonetheless rolling on Mary as a result of I knew this was the day we had Mary. We weren’t gonna have the ability to get her again.

JOANNA LEEDS: Truly, in that scene, all of my protection is to nobody.

ANDREW LEEDS: From one other day as a result of we had to return.

I want extra folks understood film magic. Like these Avengers films, oftentimes in an eight-person scene, they’re all doing particular person days which can be being put collectively in put up.

ANDREW LEEDS: Completely. She got here out, and she or he was like, “What is going on on?” We’re like, “Oh, the police got here, they shut us down. We will go shoot down the road at this flower store.” She’s like, “Okay, effectively, let me know the place to go.” She acquired within the automobile and simply drove there. That is an Academy Award-winning actress, who was simply so beneficiant and simply excited to play a personality she hadn’t performed earlier than.

However to return and reply your query, once I’m on the set on Barry, I am asking Invoice Hader, “Hey, why did you resolve to try this? Why did you resolve to let that total scene play from 200 ft away?” I wasn’t fairly as ballsy as maybe he was in that present. We wished to ship one thing that felt recent.

I might argue that Barry has its personal distinctive model and that model wouldn’t match with Bulldozer. It is two totally different worlds.

ANDREW LEEDS: Completely. However that was all the time the query in making this was, “How have you learnt?” As a result of that is the primary episode. So, how have you learnt? Ought to it’s handheld? Ought to it not be handheld? You attempt to guess and hope for one of the best. We discovered some issues. We did some reshoots, and also you be taught as you go.

Let’s speak concerning the financing and getting this off the bottom. It is not possible for everybody to get cash. How was it for this? Who was the miracle person who got here in and mentioned, “I am going to aid you?”

JOANNA LEEDS: We now have Rhett Reese. We now have Rhett Reese’s brother, Caleb Reese, after which the 2 of us. We every did a 3rd of our personal cash.

ANDREW LEEDS: Principally Rhett wrote Deadpool.

I am acquainted. He is made at the least $5 in revenue from the Deadpool films.

JOANNA LEEDS: He is by no means put his personal cash right into a undertaking. He learn the script, he is a good friend of mine, and he actually wished to see it get made. We had impediment after impediment. We have been about to make it. As we’re closing the deal, the lawyer known as me, and he is like, “There’s some virus, so I’ve to go away the workplace for 3 days.” I used to be like, “Okay, don’t be concerned about it. We’ll simply shut it.”

ANDREW LEEDS: There was a studio that was going to provide us some cash to make it.

JOANNA LEEDS: Initially. So, I used to be like, “No worries.” After which three days changed into a yr and a half of COVID the place nothing was being made.

ANDREW LEEDS: Then the studio was like, “Truly, we won’t do it anymore.” It is simply in all probability tougher for her to say, however Rhett actually believes in Joanna, and he cherished the script and, truthfully, he simply wished to see it occur. We knew that the one means that it was going to occur together with her starring in it and me directing was if we simply did it ourselves. So if we walked right into a room, they might’ve been like, “We love the script, so who can we get to play that half and who can we get to direct it?” And all these issues. Rhett, I believe we will all agree that he is fairly silly. [Laughs]

[Laughs] My headline goes to be, “Can all of us agree that Rhett is fairly silly?” – the forged of Bulldozer.

JOANNA LEEDS: I do not assume it is stupidity. I believe he is simply so good. He’s the nicest human being I’ve ever met.

ANDREW LEEDS: Simply very supportive. I believe all of us simply know the way proficient she is. It is such a tough business and it is so random. As he says, “Put my cash the place my mouth is.” I imagine in her and I imagine within the script and I imagine within the present. I truthfully assume that if we went to Rhett tomorrow and mentioned, “Hey, what do you consider us simply funding the whole three seasons?” He’d in all probability be like, “Alright.” And I might be like, “No, Rhett! Do not try this, Rhett!” [Laughs]

The Leeds Siblings Plan to do Six Episodes for ‘Bulldozer’

“I’ve, no joke, like a 265-page doc of tales I am simply raring to inform.”

It is actually humorous, although, Helen Harper is right here, they usually shot an eight-episode collection independently. The present is on the market right here, they usually’ve already shot all eight episodes. It is a utterly totally different mannequin. Additionally, with Kiss of the Spider Lady, which Invoice Condon did, they did that with Artists Fairness. Everybody labored for scale, each single particular person, however all of them owned a bit of it. When it sells right here, they will get cash.

ANDREW LEEDS: Oh that is cool. I did not notice that is how that labored. That is actually sensible. We’re speaking about methods to do one thing comparable now and make a season of this factor. She’s writing further scripts.

How a lot now have you ever been writing? Did you resolve, “I believe I may do a six-episode season or an eight-episode season?” As a result of it takes time to put in writing. What occurs if somebody right here is like, “Oh, that was actually good. Allow us to make a season. The place are the scripts?”

JOANNA LEEDS: Principally, I go away my home and once I come dwelling on the finish of the day, a brand new episode has written itself. I’ve, no joke, a 265-page doc of tales I am simply raring to inform. However I’ve written two different scripts, after which the opposite ones are outlined.

Are you pondering six or eight episodes?

JOANNA LEEDS: I am going to do regardless of the folks need. I’ll do three episodes and be content material. No matter you guys need.

ANDREW LEEDS: I believe six would really be an excellent start line until somebody mentioned they wanted eight. Particularly as a result of we’d clearly be doing this on a price range ultimately. While you do give it some thought, you find yourself doing a variety of jobs like craft providers and modifying and issues that perhaps you would not usually do if you happen to had a full workers. I do not know that we may bodily…

JOANNA LEEDS: It is dependent upon how a lot time.

Completely. The opposite benefit of LA, which is the place you shot, is that there are a variety of nice actors which can be out there for a day, if you happen to’re taking pictures in LA, the place they will sleep in their very own mattress, drive to set and drive dwelling.

ANDREW LEEDS: That is the opposite factor is we all know if we exit of state, we will get a tax credit score or one thing like that, however you lose entry to all these nice folks. These folks, like Nat Faxon, are probably the most great. He was identical to, “I will be there. No matter you guys want.” We felt so unhealthy as a result of we made him come again and do reshoots. He is like, “I really like this.”

JOANNA LEEDS: These footage on the finish, he got here in simply to shoot footage the place we glance in love. He is wonderful. That really has been so unbelievable to see how supportive these very profitable actors are who need not come and do favors.

ANDREW LEEDS: It is a good lesson for us.

Nothing Like Sibling Dynamics to Carry the Emotion to Set

“We instructed one another to be imply.”

Clearly you had written the script, however if you noticed the taking pictures schedule, what was the day you had circled when it comes to, “I am unable to wait to movie this,” and what have been you pondering, like, “How the F are we going to movie this?”

JOANNA LEEDS: It was so quick and blurry that I do not know that I had my consideration on…

ANDREW LEEDS: We knew the scene the place she will get taken away to the psychological hospital was good.

JOANNA LEEDS: That was going to be scary.

ANDREW LEEDS: We deliberate that for the final day as a result of if she will get harm, she needed to be tackled onto the bottom. She acquired harm fairly badly.

JOANNA LEEDS: I did get harm.

What precisely occurred?

JOANNA LEEDS: Oh my gosh. I want again surgical procedure. No. Nicely, I do, however in all probability not due to that. However it was terrible. I am not a stunt particular person.

ANDREW LEEDS: You recognize what’s humorous about if you sort out somebody on a mat? Mats are arduous. They’re not smooth.

JOANNA LEEDS: We’d like a mattress.

ANDREW LEEDS: A mattress would have been nice. Anyway, it was only a hard-hitting mat. However we did that within the final day. Additionally, working collectively together with your sibling is all the time an fascinating expertise.

JOANNA LEEDS: I used to be like, “What if with all these folks in a crew, what if I am unable to get emotional?” He is like, “Don’t be concerned, I’ll get you emotional.” So behind the digicam he is yelling, “Do your fucking job!”

ANDREW LEEDS: I used to be screaming at her, and the editor that acquired the footage, I used to be like, “Oh, I ought to’ve talked about to you…” He goes, “That did frighten me a little bit bit.”

JOANNA LEEDS: We instructed one another to be imply. I mentioned “Be imply to me simply to upset me.” However that wasn’t the imply I meant so that you can do to get me emotional.

ANDREW LEEDS: The factor is, that day particularly was so arduous as a result of we have got this large crane that is not within the pilot anymore.

JOANNA LEDS: The attractive crane shot that we had.

ANDREW LEEDS: Like techno crane. It held us up for 3 hours, and that did not even find yourself within the pilot.

JOANNA LEEDS: Additionally, that location was proper by Burbank airport. No joke, you needed to say your strains actually rapidly as a result of in 60 seconds one other aircraft was coming.

100%. I am unable to imagine you bought a crane for this, and it did not find yourself in it.

JOANNA LEEDS: We should always ship you the clip as a result of it was a gorgeous crane shot.

ANDREW LEEDS: It was the transition from the, two years later—now it is 4 months later. It was above the ambulance, after which it went up and the ambulance pulled away, after which it got here down, and she or he pulled up within the automobile.

JOANNA LEEDS: It was magical.

We’re at Sundance. What does it imply for each of you to be accepted into Sundance and premiering right here?

JOANNA LEEDS: We’ll begin crying. It is such an enormous deal. I really feel so extremely fortunate. You talked about earlier within the interview, it is so arduous to get even a small break on one thing. So, to get this chance is big.

ANDREW LEEDS: Our premiere is tomorrow. What’s so thrilling is that we get to look at it with a giant viewers and to see what that’s. We don’t know what that is going to be.

JOANNA LEEDS: We have not even had a screening for family and friends. We have had nothing.

ANDREW LEEDS: We may simply sit at our laptop till the top of time. We despatched it out to folks, however to get to see it with an viewers is basically thrilling. That is the Sundance Movie Pageant. I used to return right here in faculty. I used to return simply to look at films and assume, “Oh, would not it’s wonderful to at some point get to be right here?” I by no means actually thought in 1,000,000 years that that may have the ability to occur. So it was all because of this particular person.

JOANNA LEEDS: All because of this particular person.

It is nearly such as you like one another.

ANDREW LEEDS: Generally.

JOANNA LEEDS: And generally we do not. We undoubtedly revert to these childhood dynamics. Do you could have a sibling?

I do.

JOANNA LEEDS: So perhaps you realize what I am speaking about.

I 100% know what you are speaking about.

ANDREW LEEDS: However it’s actually particular to stroll round these streets and see footage of previous issues that premiered right here and to get to fulfill different movies.

JOANNA LEEDS: Additionally, it really is particular to get to be right here together with your sibling. That is loopy that we each labored on a undertaking.

ANDREW LEEDS: And that we lived to inform about it. [Laughs]

JOANNA LEEDS: That too.

Andrew Leeds Realized a Lot From His Earlier Roles

He is made appearances on hit collection like Barry, Veeps, and The Affected person.

[Andrew], you probably did a variety of one-episode appearances on, like, 1,000 reveals. Which is one that you’ve robust reminiscences of, or is there one that you just have been so excited to be on?

ANDREW LEEDS: My favourite experiences have been Veep. Veep was unbelievable, largely due to that group of individuals. Initially, there is a rehearsal course of, which is wonderful, they usually type of improvise, after which they rewrite stuff. Any time you have to act with any person like Julia Louis-Dreyfus or Steve Carell, Hugh Laurie involves thoughts, these folks, there’s simply one thing about them. Appearing with them, you do not really feel such as you’re speaking to an actor. You’re feeling such as you’re speaking to the true particular person. It is simply a tremendous expertise. [They are] those that I look as much as.

The Affected person was an unbelievable expertise. It was so distinctive as a result of there have been so many scenes with no dialogue. There can be days once they would simply comply with me round filming, simply strolling down the road, placing up images of Steve, as a result of we’re looking for him or driving my bike or no matter it was. That was a extremely fascinating expertise. Additionally, studying all of the Hebrew stuff and studying methods to play the guitar and all that stuff. And Barry was wonderful as a result of it is like a murals in a sure means, however in a bizarre, comical means.

The opposite factor about Barry is when one thing like that’s within the zeitgeist and everybody’s watching, you are getting in entrance of each casting agent with out getting a gathering. They’re simply seeing your work.

ANDREW LEEDS: Sure. And attending to act with Henry Winkler was nice. It was nice. I’ll say The Dropout was notably enjoyable. The folks there have been nice. It was only a enjoyable world to get to exist in as a result of it was simply such a bizarre story. All people else there may be just about enjoying an actual particular person, and I wasn’t. My character was identical to a made-up particular person, so I sort of acquired to only make one thing up they usually sort of let me do it.

It is a query for each of you. In addition to this pilot, if somebody has by no means seen your work earlier than, what’s the very first thing you need them watching and why?

JOANNA LEEDS: Cellphone voice primary, in episode 305 of Individual of Curiosity.

ANDREW LEEDS: [Laughs] I might need folks to see her in Bulldozer.

I believe you are nice on this.

JOANNA LEEDS: I’ve finished visitor spots on NCIS, Superstore.

That is purely her.

JOANNA LEEDS: That is the kind of performing I wish to do.

Pay attention, you’re very, excellent on this, and I actually hope folks watch this. I hope studio folks see it as a result of it is clear that you just’re humorous, and also you’re actually good on this. [Andrew], you did not suck. You have been okay as a director. [Laughs] You did not damage her performances.

ANDREW LEEDS: I admire you. That was the objective.

Particular because of our 2025 companions at Sundance together with presenting associate Rendezvous Capital and supporting companions Sommsation, The Wine Firm, Hendrick’s Gin, neaū water, and Roxstar Leisure.