This is the second interview for our new Tribe Cast Interviews series. In this series, we have a brief interview with each of the primary cast members from the upcoming show, Tribe of the Wild. You can read the previous interview at RangerCrew Blog.
Today’s interview is with Nisalda Gonzalez, who plays the role of Amanda. Follow Nisalda on Twitter at @NisaldaGo.
![Tribe of the Wild Nisalda Gonzalez]()
Interview with Nisalda Gonzalez
Have you watched any of Shuki Levy’s previous works?
But of course! The Power Rangers theme song was my ring tone for quite some time. It would probably still be had I not changed phones. Shuki has contributed to almost every show I grew up watching. It’s surreal to see him now as I see family. I have so much respect and admiration for him and his work. The best part has been learning what a warm and gentle person he is– his whole team, for that matter. He’s very easy-going and passionate about everything he does. It’s no wonder he has such an account to his name. He’s the man.
What was the audition process like?
The audition process was so many things. It was fun, it was nerve-racking, it was exciting, it was suspenseful and, toward the final stages, it was intense. Most of me was at peace with the process overall (besides the part of me that sat anxiously on the floor behind a bench in the corner at the chemistry read, of course). I’d like to think the calmer side of me felt better because of the casting crew over at Mystic Arts. They are such a friendly and nurturing bunch. They definitely gave my self-esteem a couple of boosts along the way.
What the most exciting/scary part of auditioning for Tribe was?
The most exciting part of auditioning for Tribe was the call that kicked it off. When I read about Amanda (my character) and just how much I related to her, I wanted nothing more than to be considered for the part. I thought, she is me, I have to realize her, I want this. That being said, the scariest part of auditioning was moving on through callbacks. When I learned how many submissions had gone through, the bar was raised and I got super nervous. I don’t think the nerves actually went away until the photoshoot! I almost believed my agent would call me and ay “Psych!” or something along that line. For the record, he wouldn’t do that. Sorry, Chris.
Did you audition for any other roles?
I did. I auditioned to be a hairless man. Kidding. Amanda was my only read.
What are your thoughts on your character?
I think my character is very much like me. There are a couple of differences here and there but, for the most part, I’ve had such a blast bringing her to life. It’s eerie how similar we are from our outlook on life to the way we interact with others to how oblivious we can be in certain situations despite the thinkers and observers we are. I was even allowed to incorporate some of my own wardrobe pieces! During our character development meetings before shooting, each of us in the cast took turns talking about ourselves and how we feel we relate to our characters. It was so interesting to hear how close to our roles each of us are. I might be biased here, but I think we were all casted appropriately. Shuki and Tori are so in tune and I’m so grateful for it.
Do you have any martial arts background?
I do not have any martial arts background. I’ve dabbled with very basic Muay Thai training that I could certainly not put to use in a real match, and I’ve tried Krav Maga, but that’s more street combat. Right? I don’t know. Don’t judge me. The answer is no.
Is there anything that you can share about the show or your characters?
The show is a live-action sci-fi that follows five high school teens as they find themselves forced into intense and exhilarating adventures in different time periods. We’re hoping that viewers can relate to and grow with the characters because they are very human, experiencing all the things any young adult goes through.
Based on Shuki’s previous works, the Tribe already has a fandom that is excited to see the new show. What are your thoughts on having fans support you during the audition process and the cast announcement?
Having support during the audition process, announcements and updates has been insanely heart-warming. It’s been such a nice ride since day one and to know that people have been tuned in and excited about it for that long and longer is so, so cool. I can’t wait to meet everyone and hopefully deliver what they’ve been anticipating and more. I can honestly say I’m a fan, too!
How was the experience filming the pilot episode?
Filming the pilot episode was riveting! I enjoyed every minute of it, even the really tough and tiring days. So much thought and energy went into making it happen. We got to do all our own stunts and, because it’s an original series, I had extra fun with the freedom of putting a lot of my personal quirks into my character. Every single person in the crew was a joy to meet and work with. I learned so much about production and what goes down behind the scenes. We had so much fun shooting. I definitely bagged a bunch of great memories and funny stories.
Do you have any fond moments while filming the episode?
Segue! Yes, I had a lot of fond moments while filming, many of which were captured while the cameras were rolling so maybe everyone following will see them later on. There were, of course, really precious moments off the books that I think made us all closer. We had long days with some tough moments (the rain!) but mostly a collection of funnies that are nice to look back on. I hope to create many more.
What were your thoughts after watching the pilot?
After watching the pilot, I was relieved. The whole butterflies-in-the-tummy deal was happening from the time we wrapped up until the premiere. I knew we had an excellent team working hard to cut it together and we had the best direction and coaching throughout the shoot, but I didn’t know what to expect. The post-production and the animation/effects team did such a killer job. I’m happy with the presentation, curious to see what comes next and excited to do more.
Amanda
Special thanks to the great team from Tribe of the Wild for providing the exclusive photos.
![Tribe of the Wild Nisalda Gonzalez]()
![Tribe of the Wild Nisalda Gonzalez]()
![Tribe of the Wild Nisalda Gonzalez]()
Stay tuned for more information on Tribe of the Wild through the following official links.
Official Site | Facebook | PInterest | Instagram
Discuss Tribe of the Wild at RangerCrew. For the latest updates on Tribe of the Wild, follow us at @rangercrew and like us on Facebook.
