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Nick was not involved at the time.
I really wanted his blessing and ended up getting a lot more than that.
I ended up getting a producer and a writer who had wonderful ideas.
You said you were a big fan of the book and the movie.
Nick Hornby:Why did it take four years?Four years?
NH:Yeah, okay.
That was a big one.
ZK:[Laughs.]
What was that conversation like?NH:I didnt know very much about the show.
This can happen when you sell film rights to a book.
Theyre gone and people can do what they want with them after that.
And then Zoereached out.
We met and talked and I got really excited about what she was thinking of doing.
I thought,I want to be involved in any way I can.
Thats one of my favorite parts of the book.
People really missed it.
They shot it and Beverly DAngelo played the scorned wife
ZK:Ive seen it!
NH:Its one of those things in movies.
In the show, I really liked the scene where Rob and Clyde go to check out the ex-husband.
Everything he has to say about music, he directs at Clyde and ignores Rob.
Does this happen to you?ZK:Oh yeah, and not only with music but with anything.
With film or just opinions in general.
NH:It possibly could have happened more to Zoe.
ZK:Yeah, thats absolutely true.
Youre right that this sort of gender stereotyping happens with a lot of subjects.
[Laughs] It doesnt make any sense to put any kind of gender to music.
NH:And movies, too.
I think sports can be complicated, but movies and music, its ridiculous.
It doesnt happen as much around television, Ive found.ZK:Oh, thats interesting.
Maybe because TVs changing?
NH:Maybe thats because we all started on the same page.
Not wanting her to be off-putting or too psychotic.
John Cusack could get away with it just fine, and people romanticize that idea of a man.
But when its a woman doing it, people want you to be liked.
People want you to smile more.
NH:Actually, the same kinds of criticisms were both applied to the book and the movie anyway.
It was nothing to do with gender.
It was like, does this guy have to be so sulky and quiet and bitter?
That, to me, was an important part of the character.
Rob is chronically low on confidence in the book.
you’ve got the option to certainly find men and women who feel that way.
I think I wrote a few lines here and there.
NH:We were talking about Michael Jackson and what could be redeeming aboutOff the Wall.
ZK:No, no, he didnt say they got it wrong.
He said he had a different opinion.
NH:No, no, he saidQuincy Jones had a horn arranger.
If I would have known, that would have been a really cool thing [to include].
In terms of the music thats discussed and incorporated into the soundtrack, how much was in the script?
How much of it did you two discuss?
The shows musical canvas is really wide.ZK:A lot of it was written into the scripts.
Amir [Questlove] had input; we had great music supervisors.
But these are all musicians and songs that I love.
I love all different kinds of music.
It was easy to go from Fleetwood Mac to Frank Ocean.
I love them equally.
NH:When Zoe and I met, I liked her a lot and thought she was really smart.
Then she sent me this playlist that shed made for the show.
It was insane what was on there.
Kravitz:Since then, me and Nick have become playlist buddies.
He sends me tons of playlists.
Theyve become a bit of an addiction.
Do you send him ones, too?ZK:Ive been really lazy.
Honestly, its been a one-sided thing for a minute.
I need to get my shit together.
NH:Its unrequited at the moment.
ZK:Im just taking and taking and taking.
I would feel so intimidated trying to make him a playlist.ZK:I dont feel intimidated.
Nick is educating me on the newest music.
NH:Thats because I dont let you have an opinion of your own.
ZK:[Laughs] I do and say as Nick tells me.
Because, guess what:High Fidelityisnt just about you.
Its about people who arent like you, too.
Where does that leave women or people of color who actually want to make the stuff?
Theyre not being politically correct.
Its just who they are.
Of course, the original readership forHigh Fidelitywas pretty much white guys like me.
And then me and Zoe.ZK:[Laughs] Yeah.
NH:And then it went on and on and on and it spread and spread and spread.
Like, I know Questlove read the book and it meant something to him.
Anyone who wants to say there is something ungenuine about this project, it really irritates me.
At the end of the book, thats also the lesson that Rob learns.
I think that there is room to explore that a little bit deeper, though.
In this show, the ex who shes getting over, Mac, was very similar to her.
What dating a guy who likes Phish is like for someone like Rob.
