As did Jonathan Demme, Martin Scorsese, Ron Howard and other notable filmmakers, Hurd started at Roger Corman’s New World Pictures, first as his assistant, then head of marketing, and later as a producer.

She then formed her own company, Pacific Western Productions, whose first production was The Terminator, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. Other credits include Alien Nation, Paul Schrader’s Witch Hunt (HBO), Brian DePalma’s Raising Cain and Martin Campbell’s No Escape.

Hurd subsequently formed No Frills Films, dedicated to producing low and moderately budgeted films such as Bad Dreams; The Sundance Film Festival winner The Waterdance; and the cult classic Tremors.

Most recently, Hurd has produced The Ghost and the Darkness, starring Michael Douglas and Val Kilmer; Peter Hyams’ sci-fi thriller The Relic; 1998s top box office hit Armageddon, starring Bruce Willis, Ben Affleck and Liv Tyler; and the upcoming Dick, starring Kirsten Dunst and Michelle Williams.