Written By: Jayme Face
We caught up with Sarah Minnich who can currently be seen starring alongside Nicholas Cage in Running with the Devil and alongside Justin Long in The Wave.
Photo Credit: Lesley Bryce
upfrontNY: Can you tell us about the film “Running with the Devil” and your character?
Sarah Minnich: I play wife to Nicolas Cage in “Running with the Devil”. In my teens, I was a major Cage fan and I grew up watching some of his more famous films like “Gone in 60 Seconds”, “Face Off”, and “The Rock”. I loved his mysterious aura and his smoky voice. When I got the audition for this, I was shocked and awed that they would consider me to play his WIFE!? What!? I went into the audition expecting not to get the role, and just had fun playing in the room. When I got the notice that I did book it, I was again rather shocked. I remember just looking up and thanking God for such an amazing treat and opportunity. On top of my excitement to play across from such a massive star, I was also thrilled to play pregnant; I love playing pregnant and think that pregnant women are some of the most beautiful women out there. My character, “The Wife” (everyone in the film is named as such; e.g. the cook, the woman in charge, the snitch, etc.) is a pregnant wife trying to live the American dream with a husband who has a different agenda. She finds herself caught between the desire to be family and her disappointment at her husband’s seemingly regular disappearances to “take care of business”.
upfrontNY: What was it like working alongside Nicholas Cage?
Sarah Minnich: When I finally got to set on the day and met Mr. Cage, I was not surprised to learn that he is a very focused and professional actor. He spent a lot of his time working with the director to get the character exactly right and he was pleasant and professional with me when we did interact. I have met famous actors in the past who are either full of themselves or overtly flirtatious and obnoxious (because they can be); however, Cage was neither.
upfrontNY: Can you tell us about The Wave and your character, Cheryl?
Sarah Minnich: “The Wave” was one of the most fun projects I have ever worked on. To say that I loved letting out all of that anger and aggression and then getting to overhand pitch an alarm clock at Mr. Long himself, is a major understatement. The director, Gille Klabin, was such a force! His energy was pure excitement and happiness; I’ve never met another director who was more outwardly happy and ready to do what he loved. On top of that, I’ve never been on a set that was more welcoming and conducive to creativity. Everyone that I encountered was able to let go and make it about the art. I was able to recently see the film and yes, it’s definitely out there, but it’s also a wonderful project that I am so pleased with! My character, Cheryl, is an affronted woman who is releasing frustration at her failed marriage. Discontented, revengeful and suspicious are three words I would use to describe her.
upfrontNY: Since Justin Long’s character is on a hallucinogenic and it is filmed as such, what was it like filming in this different style?
Sarah Minnich: There was definitely one or two weird moments while filming. Viewers will see that some of the scenes begin and/or end with this weird hallucinogenic feel. The challenge as an actor was achieving that while not going overboard. With a team that included Gille Klabin and Justin Long, that wasn’t a problem.
upfrontNY: You are based in New Mexico, is there a growing film scene there?
Sarah Minnich: Absolutely! New Mexico is really coming into its own in the film and television industry. The industry presence here has really been growing since “Breaking Bad”, but it has taken a new turn (shall we say, a quickening) here in the past year. With Netflix coming to town and another major network soon to follow, local talent and crew are beginning to see a new and exciting flux of work.
upfrontNY: How did you first get interested in acting in the first place?
Sarah Minnich: I was always a “performer”; from the time that I was a child, putting on pseudo plays in the front yard, to when I was in high school, performing in the marching band. As I’ve aged, I’ve come to realize that acting is really my calling. Oddly enough though, I didn’t discover that that unidentified performance passion was for film/tv acting until I starred in an indie horror film in 2006 called “Spring Break Massacre”. Don’t get me wrong, the experience was both wonderful and problematic, but I remember loving almost every minute of it and thinking that “this is what I’m meant to do”. Since then, I’ve been lucky enough to continue my career, and with each new year of challenges and set-backs, I become more steadfast in my pursuit of this wild dream.
upfrontNY: You are a successful actress, but recently finished your masters in interpersonal communications. What made you want to go back to school in a different field?
Sarah Minnich: I finished my MA in 2015 (it’s crazy to think that was more than four years ago now). Although I have been a career-actress, so-to-speak, since 2011, this really wasn’t a different field for me. I did my undergraduate work in communication as well. My original goal in pursuing communication, rather than theatre, was to study something that was both applicable to acting and that could be translated into a real-world career if acting ceased to be an option. Now that I have had relative success in acting, communication is coming in handy more than ever. On set and in the audition room, I find that skill in communicating often makes the difference between booking more work or being unemployed. Not to mention, aside from acting, I teach communication at the local community college. I think that all actors must have some other pursuit aside from acting for sanity’s sake.
upfrontNY: You work with several different causes, can you tell us about those organizations and your involvement?
Sarah Minnich: Although I am passionate about several different causes, I have not yet secured the kind of funds I would need to do the kind of work I would like to do. The two main causes I am passionate about are: 1) animal rights and 2) conservation. Ideally, I will get to a point in my acting career where I can contribute substantial resources to providing good homes for and relief for abused, neglected, and otherwise in-need animals. Currently, I try to send money where I can to support that cause. In terms of conservation, my plan is this: if I ever get to a point where I have social influence, I hope to follow in the footsteps of Leonardo DiCaprio and Rosario Dawson and use that influence to bring awareness to fans and viewers. It’s amazing the kind of work that can get done with major influencers get behind a cause.
upfrontNY: What do you like to do outside of work?
Sarah Minnich: I like to sew, work with plants, and play/walk with my dog!
upfrontNY: Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers?
Sarah Minnich: I encourage viewers to check out the new Netflix series “Daybreak” streaming now. I play Natalie Hoyles, privileged parent of the infamous “Hoyles”.
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