Zooey Deschanel Says ‘Trash Mountain’ Took Her to the ‘Early Days’ of Her Career: ‘What I Want to Get Back To’

Zooey Deschanel, an actress who has been professionally active for nearly three decades, has expressed her desire to return to the type of character-driven indie films that marked the early days of her career. Deschanel, who is best known for her role in the TV series "New Girl," discussed her newfound appreciation for such films after working on "Trash Mountain."

The film, co-written by her brother Caleb Hearon and directed by Kris Rey, tells the story of two siblings who must confront their father's hoarder tendencies after his death. Deschanel found the story deeply moving, a sentiment that brought her full circle to the early days of her career when she was immersed in character-driven indie films like "Elf" and "Failure to Launch."

Deschanel's connection with Hearon, who also stars in the film, was immediate. Hearon, a comedian and actor, described their meeting as the "dreamiest job ever," adding that Deschanel is "such a brilliant actress and such a kind, genuine person." Hearon's inspiration for "Trash Mountain" came from the sudden and unexpected death of his own father, which motivated him to write the film as a form of therapy.