That was my issue as well, so I figured I might as well type out some details while listening. Plus then I will remember what these interviews were about a few years later, too. 
Michael Wesley-Smith
2020-04-05T12:00:00Z
⢠Michael is back where he grew up, Wellington NZ.
⢠He is now a father of a little girl Evelyn and married to Lucy.
⢠When Mike met his wife, she did joke about The Tribe.
⢠The very first scene âCode One. Isolation now in effectâ was also the first scene Ray wrote for The Tribe.
⢠Mike studied criminal law when he first went to law school. He moved to London in 2009 and ended up there until 2012, he worked in employment law.
⢠After he moved back to NZ, he went to broadcasting school and for 4-5 years worked as a journalist for tv3, focusing on social justice issues.
⢠Mikeâs parents were worried about him becoming an actor and thought he could rather become a lawyer or a doctor (so he ended up getting a law degree but later changed careers)
⢠Ray and Mike first met when he participated in âLegend of William Tellâ but Mikeâs first role was at the age of six years in a theatre.
⢠Mike was 14, studying at an all-boys-school and he remembers getting the part for âThe Tribeâ, they were at home, his sister picked up the phone with the call and old him. The whole experience was fantastic and he still keeps in touch with a few people from crew/cast.
During the time Mike spent living in Auckland, years after filming had ended, he met up with Antonia Prebble, Victoria Spence, Beth Allen. The whole cast got on very well.
⢠He always felt the people stayed very grounded and it was a very family-like experience.
⢠A german woman came all the way to NZ to meet Michael while he was actually living in London and ended up having coffee with Michaelâs mom. (Way to go, being a great host there, mom. What an experience.)
⢠The Tribe tours were quite mind-blowing and it was quite an adrenaline rush and great energy present at these gatherings overseas, there was so much enthusiasm and passion for the show. Mike remembers thinking he is never going to forget it.
⢠Ideal day at work is the kind where he is able to help somebody. Life is a lot more ordinary now than it was when he was an actor working on The Tribe, but he has a family and couple of dogs, so he is only missing a white picket fence
⢠He currently loves watching documentaries and West Wing, True Crime series, Making a Murderer.
⢠Which of Jackâs inventions would he want in an apocalyptic world? Jack is a very DIY person (Mike is not), Mike would like a functioning water filter and generator.
⢠Mike think Jack had a big ego which prevented him getting advice at first, but he softened as he matured.
⢠Ashwath Sundaresan had a very good sense of humor, he now has a family of his own. He is now working in scientic field. Mike sometimes catches up with him on social media these days.
⢠âAtlantis Highâ was a challenge because the character there was very different from Jack at first, but he really loved the quirky humor in it. Atlantis High was great in conception and delivery and sheer audacity, fun escapism and that lightness was a real tonic.
Ray adds that âAtlantis Highâ was something from another planet for sure (wacky cult spoof comedy melodrama).
⢠His closest cast members were Ryan, Antonia, Victoria, Beth, Ash, Dwayne, Danny, Caleb - and for Mike, those were closest to his age and found themselves all in an unusual situation and he thinks those friendships last a lifetime.
⢠Mike had to dye his hair a lot, in initial series the fully orange hair was redone every few weeks.
⢠Most important thing learned from âThe Tribeâ was the importance of friendship (in uncertain times) and the support you can draw from those.
âExplore your relationships with people youâre in isolation with. It offers an unique opportunity to revigorate some relationships and rethink how we live our lives today. Pick up the phone, donât be self conscious about asking for help or giving help. Itâs often assumption that prevents us from making the most basic human ouverture, ask people how they are.â