Morelos might play a teen in the 90s, but they define Gen Z and college students in their feelings of uncertainty, FOMO, and overall happiness. 

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On May 4, I made my way to NYU’s Cantor Film Center to watch Sam Morales, an NYU student, in a new movie, “The Summer of ‘69,” starring Liza Kohsy, Matt Barnett, and Chloe Fineman.

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“I’m trying so hard not to shit my pants,” I overheard Morales saying to one of their friends. 

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At the entrance of the film center, a gaggle of Morelos’ friends were there, with bright flower bouquets.

As soon as I turned around, I saw SNL star Chloe Fineman walk in with a long, beige trench coat and boba tea in hand. Fineman and Morelos exchanged hugs and small talk as if they had known each other for years, and that despite their seventeen year age difference, their on screen chemistry also translated to real life. At the very last minute, Morelos’ “That ‘90s Show” costar Mace Coronel ran into the theatre, with wet hair and a charming smile, just like his character Jay in the series.

 

“We’re all just so proud of her. They’re one of the most talented people I know,” chimed NYU freshman Fatima Yousif, who is a part of a friend group alongside Sam. They are all students who have a passion for acting and supporting one another. 

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Sam brought a sense of tranquility, over the head headphones, and their signature short, curly, black hair to the interview. 

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Morelos doesn't want to be treated differently from their peers. “We literally eat at the same dining halls,” they mention, as they are just a college student trying to survive the politics of Gen Z, just like the rest of us. 

Morelos’ parents immigrated from the Philippines and now reside in Los Angeles, California, where Morelos was born and raised. Morelos embodies everything that it means to be Filipino, according to them. “I am Filipino through and through. Everything about me is Filipino,” said Morelos. 

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“The cool thing about being Filipino is that the arts are really championed. There's a lot of love for art, music, and performance arts, which I can really appreciate. So when I was a kid, I started community theater. I just loved being an entertainer, being on stage. Then, when I was 12, I went to a brand new art school called California School of the Art San Gabriel Valley. I loved that place to death.”

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It was over quarantine that Morelos began taking acting seriously, and according to them, it was “The bug. I caught the acting bug and no one could talk me out of it.” 

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The way Morelos received their role as Nicki on the hit Netflix show is nothing short of a perfect moment where everything worked out for them. 

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“I didn't have an agent or a manager. It was one of those things where when they were casting, they sent these flyers to the art school in California because they were looking for teenagers to play teenagers,” they said. The role was Nicki on Netflix’s “That 90s Show”, the spin-off of “That 70s Show,” starring Topher Grace and Laura Prepon. That changed their life. 

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Turns out, Morelos can be a moody, petty teenager like we all were or currently are. 

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“I only submitted to the flyer because this bitch, who I've hated since third grade, got a call back, and she would not stop talking about it. I really did book [That 90s Show] out of spite, which is hilarious,” said Morelos. 

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After highschool, while doing That 90s Show, they took a gap year to film season two. But they always knew they eventually wanted to go to university. “Every adult in my life was like, ‘Why are you going to school? You don't have to go to school,’ which is crazy, because getting a degree is really important to me,” said Morelos. “I'm from a first gen immigrant household.” 

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At 17 years old, Morales applied for NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, studying Dramatic Arts. “To be completely candid and totally transparent, I could not have possibly afforded NYU without “That 90s show,” without any of these opportunities.” Morales is paying for their own education.

 

When talking to one of Morelos’ closest confidants, NYU Tisch freshman Sanjay Govindarajan, he rehashed his first encounter with Sam. 

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“They're just such a down to earth person, like you would never tell and they're also shy about [their career]. Sometimes when we're talking to people, I have to be like, ‘Oh, Sam was in a show,’ because Sam's is always shy about telling people,” said Govindarajan. 

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According to Govindarajan, he feels like he’s “become a better actor seeing [Sam] work in class.” 

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Govindarajan mentions a few names, such as Matt Cornnett, the cast of “That ‘90s Show,” and even the stunt choreographers Morelos has worked with that are just as proud of them as their friends are.

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“They won't say this, but they're super talented. Sam has brought me to some movie premieres where they've had a little reunion with people they worked with, every person gets so excited to see them. They're very shy about that, and they probably did say that to you in your interview.”

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“One time in a dining hall, we ran into a fan, and she was like, ‘Oh, I'm Filipino too, and you've been such an inspiration to me,’ and Sam got so happy. Like, that's a big deal to them.

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Most young actors haven't had the kind of experience Morelos has had, especially actors of color, when it comes to the creative freedom and experience of being on a film set. Fashion is one way they are able to show their personality. 

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“They asked me to bring in my own wardrobe. They're like, ‘Oh, what do you think that Abby would wear? What do you think Lexi would wear? Bring it in.’ I ended up influencing at least one or two of the looks. I didn't realize that I had a say in what I did until I got a little more comfortable and the imposter syndrome started wearing off. It really is a mutualistic relationship, and we kind of inspire each other, me and the character,” said Morelos. 

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“Young people are kind of taught to make themselves smaller, and be malleable and just take shit, Then there's a possibility that people aren't going to like you, and that's so bad. But take up space,” urges Morelos. 

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The TV shows and movies that Morelos has starred in have been at the forefront of helping them confirm and explore their gender, fashion that has an influence of both masculine and feminine styles, and overall relationship with themselves.  

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“I'm non-binary. I came out when I was like 12. I've known for a fairly long time, but it was one of those things that I was afraid of taking up space. So I would never correct anyone. I would never tell anyone. I don't really need the external validation of my pronouns said back to me, because I know what I am,” said Morelos. “It’s the most uninteresting thing about me.”

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According to Sam, gender and fashion have always interplayed, and even helped them understand their gender.  

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“There's something that I read and it was the best description ever of my gender experience, which is gender is like a pair of shoes. You're not supposed to be thinking about how you're wearing shoes,” said Morelos.   

When it comes to how Morelos likes to dress, there is not one style or identity they follow. 

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“I love dresses and skirts, I love tapping into my femininity. It just has to be on my terms. I love a skirt, but it has to be paired with a chunky loafer, or, something really baggy. I love adding  feminine pieces with more androgynous, chunky, square shaped things. So that there's a little cool contrast between the two.

Morelos reminds us that an actor is separate from the character they play, while most fans want them to be as similar as possible. 

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“It's something fun that I like to do with my characters. It’s kind of helped me realize how much of a character they are. Yeah, I'm not method. So I like to see the difference between myself and my character, and wardrobe is definitely one of the indicators.”

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Not only does Morelos use their character’s fashion as a way to explore their own style, but also utilizes her Filipino community to showcase their pride for their culture. 

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“There's also this amazing jeweler, she makes really cool beaded necklaces. Her company is called Tula Designs, and she sources all of her beads from indigenous Filipino tribes and communities. It's beautiful work that I love to wear in my personal life, and also on carpets.” 

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While talking to Morelos, they couldn't keep their excitement in when telling me that they’re currently filming a movie–a Colleen Hoover movie. 

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“I’m playing the comedic relief character, I’m so glad to be here working with Mckenna Grace, Dave Franco, Mason Thames, like it’s crazy,” said Morelos. 

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Called “Regretting You,” the film is set to be released in October of this year, while Morelos will be entering their sophomore year of college. 

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In Morelos’ latest film “The Summer of 69,” they play alongside social media star, Liza Koshy, famously known for her Youtube videos and Vines in the 2010s. According to Morelos, Koshy is one of the most famous people on their phone, and favorite person on their phone, I might add.  

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“[Koshy] pulled me aside on set once and said, ‘I’m so proud of you. What you're doing for brown girls everywhere is amazing,” said Morelos. “I teared up.”