Last week, the University of Iowa rejected an application from HBO’s Girls to film on its campus, seemingly forcing it to settle for some less hip safety school in New York. But, like a plucky twentysomething determined not to let reality keep them from pursuing their Iowa dreams, the show will go to Iowa City, according to director Jesse Peretz—even if, like a lot of others there, it just has to fake it to make it for a while. “Even if we can’t shoot on campus, we will shoot around campus. Most of the scenes don’t even take place on campus,” Pletz tells Vulture, echoing the defiant explanations many a youngster has given to his parents about why they’re just gonna move to Iowa City anyway to be a part of it all, even if they have to audit some classes for a bit. And besides, you can learn everything you need out here on these Iowa streets.