It is a very unique privilege for me to do my very first interview with the woman who has supported and inspired me throughout my long career in this field. I am really grateful that she consented to do this. Please welcome Sinn Sage.
Let me just give you an idea about what kind of interviews I normally do. It is a 50/50 thing, as I call it. 50% about porn, 50% about the person, inspiration, and beliefs that you have.
1) Do you still remember the very first scene you did, and how was it? And with whom?
Sinn: "Yes definitely, it was for a fetish porn company that is not around anymore called Gwen Media, and it was called Sexual Rendezvous. I had to wake up at an ungodly hour to drive around 3 hours to get there on time, just to wait around for HOURS before my scene started. And it wasn't just one scene, it was 2. This was in 2003 and the g/g rate at the time was $500. The shoot took all day well into late at night, there were no GPS cell phones at the time and I certainly didn't have a cell phone at all. I got lost trying to find the freeway on my way out in the middle of the night, it was awful. Anyway, though, the other performer was Anna Mills, and even though I was so intimidated by everyone, she was enthusiastic and so kind to me, I'll always appreciate that."
2) Which performer would you like to work with if you could choose one that you have not worked with before?
Sinn: "I've been very lucky, I've pretty much worked with most people I want to work with. But I have never worked with Angela White, from what I hear, people say it would be fire. Truthfully, I'd love to work with anyone who is just really passionately into having sex with women the way I am. I've been with many in the past and hope it happens more in the future too."
3) When did you decide to become a porn star?
Sinn: "Oh, I was very young. Pretty much in middle school. In the 90s there were these trendy necklaces that came with a box of beads with letters on them, I made one that said, “PORN STAR” on it and wore it to school. (looking back, it's like, what were they thinking? Of course, we would just make it say dirty things.)"
4) You are a two-time AVN award winner. Would it be possible for you to take us on a little journey through the feelings, thoughts, and emotions you felt when you heard about this great news?
Sinn: "Yeah, definitely. So at that point, I had just accepted that the type of work that I did, and that I only performed in g/g, I would never win any kind of award in this business. Times were different back in the '00s and if you didn't do b/g you just weren't really big enough to win awards or make waves. I'd been to the awards show enough times to see who was winning for best g/g scene, and it was always girls who performed in every type of scene. However, when Dani and I had finished the scene, I breathlessly said, “if there was ever a scene I did that had a chance of winning that award, we just did it.” but I still did not at all believe it would happen. So much so that when the award was actually called, I had even left the venue briefly. I got a tweet that said we won, and I was in shock. I walked back into the venue and Dani was on stage saying, “Where's my girl at?” so I started running down the aisle along the side, waving my arms and shouting“ I'm here. I ran on stage and Dani kissed me and said the most amazing thing, “Sinn Sage *IS* girl/girl”. I just covered my mouth and tried to think of something to say. I can't even remember if either of us thanked anyone, we were both just so surprised and happy. It was definitely a highlight of my career. Just to get that level of recognition from my peers, it felt really validating."
5) Where do you envision yourself in ten years? Do you still want to do porn? What kinds of movies would you like to make in the future? And is there anything you have not tried out yet, after so many years of being a performer? And what kind of adventure do you still want to experience?
Sinn: "I have zero intention of quitting the work that I do at any point in the foreseeable future. Yes, I always want to do porn. In the future, I would like to produce movies that I am not necessarily performing in, but as of now, I have no idea what that would look like. The only thing I haven't tried out that I would potentially be interested in trying out is maybe a really degrading gang bang, as long as my husband Drake was one of the guys (and I got to handpick the other guys). Also, it can't involve anal, so I don't know who would shoot it, but that's just a personal fantasy. And there are still plenty more adventures to experience! But most of the adventures I dream of involve international travel."
Personal questions:
1) Sage has a fascinating meaning. Would it be okay for you to share your epic story about your name?
Sinn: "Well, Sage is the road I grew up on; it's the bushes that were everywhere in the desert I grew up in, and it means profound wisdom. So, it feels fitting in many ways."
2) One of your tattoos says: “So it goes. Can you please share the story behind it with us?
Sinn: "This is a line that is repeated many times in the Kurt Vonnegut American literature classic novel Slaughterhouse-Five. Every time something dies, whether it's a human, a bird, or an insect, the next line is “so it goes.” To me, it's a fitting reminder about accepting the things you cannot change in life and death. It was maybe even the beginning of my journey into Stoic philosophy. I recommend everyone read Kurt Vonnegut, with Slaughterhouse-Five, Cat's Cradle, and the short story collection Welcome to the Monkey House being my favorites."
3) If you had the opportunity to put yourself in a movie that is all about your life, what kind of movie would you expect to see, and what would the title be?
Sinn: "It would be one of those indie films where I'm like a tragic, manic pixie dream girl, but very sad and tragic, yet full of hope and wonder."
4) What is your favorite food?
Sinn: "I was just thinking about this today. Usually, I say fried cheese, but I think the real answer should be either sour cream or ranch."
5) What do your fans mean to you? I am not sure if you have noticed, but there are some people who are getting a Sinn Sage tattoo with a lovely message. Do you feel that you are still loved after so many years in the industry, and how does that feel to you? (These are some questions coming from our readers.)
Sinn: "Fans are really what keep me going. Hearing from them that I've somehow had an impact on them and the way they live and the way they love, that's everything to me. It means I am embodying my purpose in life, which is to inspire others. I think it's amazing that people have decided to commemorate that with a tattoo. I've tattooed things that are really impactful and meaningful to me on my body, so I get it. Sometimes it's hard to believe that I've made that much of an impact on someone when, in my own mind, I can feel so insignificant. But it means a lot to me to encourage people to live more freely and more as themselves; that's what I'm passionate about, and fans letting me know that they feel that way is the most fulfilling thing about my work."
Quickies
Instagram or Twitter. Why shortly?
Sinn: "Ugh. I hate them both. I tolerate them because I have to for my job. But social media has been warped from what it was in the beginning, and now it really seems to bring out the worst in us all. It's a challenge to keep things in perspective while on social media."
Are you a relationship person, or do you prefer to be single?
Sinn: "Since I turned 18, I have probably been single for a grand total of maybe 11 months. I was in a relationship from 18 to 27 and then met my husband four months after I had left my ex. So, this question doesn't really apply to me. Or, I guess you would say, “relationship person,” even though I definitely don't think of myself that way."
On a normal day, do you prefer to wear makeup or not?
Sinn: "Oh, hell fucking no. It takes me an hour and 15 minutes just to do my makeup, and I barely ever leave the house. Why would I do my makeup? Even when I do leave the house, I almost never wear makeup. Maybe to a wedding or a goth show, but otherwise, hell no, I'm not wasting my time. Makeup is a job."
Morning person or stay-in-bed person?
Sinn: "I'm not a stay-in-bed person; when I wake up, I get out of bed. But I am not a morning person by any definition. My sleep schedule is that I fall asleep around 2:30 am and sleep 9 hours solid. Then it takes me a couple of hours to feel awake. It's a struggle sometimes, but it's just the way my body works."
First date: restaurant, going out at night, or watching a movie together?
Sinn: "Restaurant and going out. It's not really interesting to sit and stare in the same direction as someone for two hours. You're not going to learn much about each other that way."
One last one: what is the most important thing you could share with our readers regarding your person? Do you have any pieces of advice for people who want to become porn stars? What makes you the happiest person in life? What does it mean to you to be alive and living your dreams and passions?
Sinn: "Okay, this isn't the last one; these are four more questions.
I think about things analytically. Sure, I have tons of advice for people who want to do pornography—too much to mention here. I'd have to charge a consulting fee. I think life is about accepting that happiness is something that comes and goes; it's a feeling you get to have, not a place you eventually get to. It's very satisfying, even when it's a lot of hard work. There are just so many rewards."
Again, many thanks to you, dear Sinn. I enjoyed reading your responses, and at this point, I'd like to reiterate how appreciative I am of your assistance and how all the years I've loved and admired you will live on in my heart forever. Thank you, Sinn.
