Morgan Ziva Revisited

CHRIS CHARLES: Thanks so much for doing this again Morgan. The last time I interviewed you for Idol Features, it was right at the onset of the Pandemic. Many of us, especially those in the entertainment industry, felt as if our lives were sort of put “on hold” during that time. What about you?
MORGAN ZIVA: Yes, the pandemic. What a mess…. I was inside for about 3 months going crazy. I think took up video games during that time. I do remember doing a couple films Hell Van by Jorge Delarosa and The Melon Heads: House of Crow by Eddie Lengel. We had to do it towards the end when everything was opening again and had to wear masks and on some film shoots vaccines were required.
CHRIS: What was something you did that you were dying to do again as soon as the mask-wearing, social distancing stuff was finally over?
MORGAN: Nothing…. Ha! Just kidding! 😉 For me it was almost weird to go back into public. At the time I really wanted to get back to the gym. I was really missing big gatherings of friends and family. It really made people afraid to be around each other. I missed hugs too. I’m a hugger.
CHRIS: As this goes to press, you are in the running to be Maxim magazine cover model. You have my vote, but even if that doesn’t happen this time, I’m sure it will eventually, and you will definitely be gracing the cover of Effective magazine in the very near future.
MORGAN: I appreciate you so much, you just made my day. The support is so important. I know we make this look easy, but it is constant perseverance. I’m goal oriented so this has been quite a journey. I love modeling, and I’m so proud I have come as far as I have. Putting yourself out there really takes courage, but you have to or how is the world going to find you?
CHRIS: I see you plan on donating your Maxim winnings to Soldiers’ Angels, which is a wonderful organization I, as a veteran, am very familiar with. You have family members who served in the military?
MORGAN: Yes, my father was in the Air Force. It took its toll on him. I have so much empathy for veterans. They sacrifice everything and I mean everything. I used to volunteer and do arts and crafts at the VA with them. It was very rewarding, but I think we should be doing more.
CHRIS: Absolutely. So, the person who originally brought you to my attention back in 2020 was director Robert Kotabish, who sadly passed away in July of last year. I know you worked with Robert on at least two films; Moon Shine Vixens and Frustrated. What stands out the most for you when you remember working with Robert?
MORGAN: Oh, I just cried a little. Bob was such a big part of my life. He’s the reason I’m succeeding today. “You’re a legend Morgan Ziva” was one of the last things he said to me before he passed. He believed it, and he believed in me. I could ask him any industry question, and he always had the answer. He advised me a lot. I took a big loss when he passed. He had a rough personality. Not everyone understood why he was my mentor, but he knew the industry well, and he’s proud of me up there in the clouds now.
CHRIS: Were there any other projects you did with Robert that were unfinished at the time of his passing?
MORGAN: Yes, there was a film he was working on and myself and Jorge Delarosa tried to track down the footage so we could finish it for him. We tried to no avail. We just couldn’t find it. We did make a mash up of all his work and showed it as a memorial at the Cinema Wasteland film festival. His family really appreciated it and his wife and I still talk.
CHRIS: So tell me about some of your post-pandemic roles. How about your role in Hell Van?
MORGAN: I loved that role. I play a snoopy reporter and I get a pretty good death scene at the end. They had a heated trailer waiting for me after I got covered in blood. That happens to me a lot in these films. “More blood, get more blood on the girl.” I wanted to come back for Hell Van 2. What the heck, Jorge!!!!
CHRIS: What about your role in St. Patrick’s Day: The Sluagh Awakens?
MORGAN: Just magic, I love her. I have PTSD so tapping into that for the character was healing for me. She just wanted to be human, stay here, find herself a nice man to settle down with, a few acres. Hehe! I don’t know about the last part. This is fun. Seriously though, I had no lines for the part so the body movements and facial expressions were important. Bloody too, there was a big blood scene in that movie as well. More blood More blood! These directors. 😉
CHRIS: Do you have any upcoming film projects that are not yet listed at your IMDb page?
MORGAN: Yaaas! We added some scenes for House of Crow with my friend Tess Mormont and that should be out soon. Yule Monster is coming out soon too. My friends Cynthia Seidel and Daniel Fernando Acosta Sr. are in that as well. Shawn Mormont, my friend’s husband, got to play the monster. Wait a minute …even I played him for a second. My body was too fabulous to film me coming down the stairs as the monster. What a wonderful problem to have, right? “Cut cut, that body though.” There may also be a siren movie in the works as well with Cynthia, Tess, and I. Should be a lot of fun.
CHRIS: I see you are also a certified PADI mermaid dive instructor and performer, which is something I don’t believe you were involved in back in 2020, correct?
MORGAN: No, that is kind of recent, but I get booked quite a bit. We are doing an underwater performance next month to celebrate a gym opening locally. It’s very exciting.
CHRIS: I have interviewed a couple of other ladies who have also been mermaid performers; Tristan Risk and Laura Giglio. Were you inspired by any particular mermaid performers before you became one yourself?
MORGAN: I was totally inspired by Daryl Hannah in Splash. When I was a kid, I was like; “I will one day be her.” I did a lot of mermaid cosplay photoshoots with Syvanah Bennett of Got to B Me Photography, and one day I came across a mermaid event. I had to be certified to participate, so I took the class with Elle Jimenez and here I am a working mermaid.
CHRIS: You say that performing as a mermaid is much more than just entertainment, it’s also about things like healing and empowerment. Where these things you expected to learn from the start, or did you discover them after you began your training?
MORGAN: The mermaid community is a very open and excepting place, and we all support each other. A tail is a comfy place to be in for trauma survivors too. When I first became certified, I was talking with an organization regarding having a mermaid class for trauma survivors. I hope we still get it off the ground. This is a wonderful community to express yourself in. We are open to everything and everyone.

CHRIS: Do you do your hair and makeup all yourself?
MORGAN: I do. It’s so much work. You need waterproof everything and a spray fixative for shows and performances. Aquariums are another story. You need to be very careful with the sea life. Most products are toxic for them, it’s always best to reach out to other long time aquarium performers to see how they select products to protect the aquarium while performing.
CHRIS: What was the most physically challenging thing to learn in order to become a mermaid performer?
MORGAN: You can not panic when you’re under water. The breath hold takes practice, and you have to tell yourself, “I’m safe in the water, I don’t need to breathe yet.” Your brain will automatically tell you, “Ahhhhhhh!!!! I’m drowning!!!”
CHRIS: You have also become a brand model for Andreea Boyer’s clothing line. I was the one who first mentioned to Andreea that you would be a great promotional model for her brand. She agreed and I know that she couldn’t be any happier with you wearing her designs.
MORGAN: I just love Andreea Boyer! She is phenomenal and striking. What an amazing and multitalented person. When I saw that Shein ad (featuring me) I cried a little. What an absolute honor to be a promotional model for her brand. I could not be happier. I’m so happy she is doing so well. You can see in the ad how happy I was wearing that dress. The sprightly smile I have filling the page says it all. I’m so glad Chris Douglas will do the photos again too.
CHRIS: With that, I’ll thank you again for doing this with me, Morgan. In closing, any shout-outs to anyone?
MORGAN: I want to shout out my mom Linda Hill and my brother Andy Freeman for supporting me always. Also a shout-out to my director-writer friend Jason Croot, whom I will be working with on set in the near future. I love ya friends!