Filming for Hannah Horvath’s first semester at the University of Iowa has already begun, and although the crew of HBO’s Girls haven’t made their way to Iowa City quite yet (a plan previously confirmed by director Jesse Peretz), they have been using a central Brooklyn neighborhood as an Iowa City stand-in.
The show made waves in Iowa City last month when, in the previous season’s finale, it was revealed that protagonist Hannah Horvath (played by Lena Dunham) gained admittance to the University of Iowa’s Writers’ Workshop program.
The University of Iowa declined HBO’s request to film on campus, causing a bit of an uproar, though Iowa City itself is still fair game, according to Peretz. “We will be going to Iowa City and we will be shooting some there,” he told Vulture earlier this month.
In the mean time, the show is using Ditmas Park, Brooklyn as an Iowa City stand-in, according to Ditmas Park Corner. As seen in the Google Street View images below, Ditmas Park is lined with Victorian-style homes dating back to the early 20th century and, in many ways, resembles Iowa City quite closely. What do you think?
Ditmas Park, Brooklyn — Images and map data via Google, Bluesky
I think University of Iowa administrators are less concerned with providing education opportunity than they are with generating profit. They couldn’t see a way to make from “disruptive” filming on campus as much money as from the swarms of drunk, abusive, and destructive football conformists. The presence, in the University, of a film production program, and the benefit to it of having a professional production company near at hand, never entered their equation. That sort of thing is just not what their minds are on.
Right on man. How do you possibly rationalize this except for someone wilting in the presence of an opportunity? This was a chance for a lot of positive things to happen for a lot of people. Somebody decided rather to have Brooklyn portray Iowa City. What a joke.
From someone who just finished his degree here, the guy above me is right. This is the same school that prides themselves in being a research institute complains an archeological dig is ruining their construction plans. I spent five years being treated as a business asset than a student.
This school has one goal: money. It doesn’t take a lot of digging to hear from students what’s wrong here. I heard absolutely nothing about the University trying to address their concerns with HBO. I hate this show. But it makes me furious my school closed the door without even considering the benefits.
Imagine these same writers getting first hand experience and behind the scenes access to a global HBO show. Imagine university filmmakers being on set to see the creation of the show. Imagine the revenue for the city. Imagine the publicity for the state. Think of what the Midwest gains from having a spot so important, Hollywood wanted to showcase it. Instead, the University of Iowa pissed it away. What an idiot group of administrators.
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