Dare to Know: The Many Dimensions of Michelle Murdocca
We loved The Devil Wears Prada just as much as you did, but it’s time to put the stereotype of the career-obsessed dragon lady with the crumbling home life to bed. For Michelle Murdocca, the producer of September’s highly anticipated 3D animated film Hotel Transylvania (from Sony Pictures Animation), achieving the proverbial “work-life balance” falls at the top of the list.
A mother of four-year-old twin girls, Michelle cites her daughters as the driving force behind her creative work on Hotel Transylvania, a reimagining of classic storybook monsters starring Adam Sandler, Andy Samberg, and Selena Gomez. “I love that we can create this universe of characters for a new generation,” she gushes. “My kids know who Frankenstein and Dracula are based on costumes, but they don’t know the personalities of Frankenstein and Dracula. They’re going to see Hotel Transylvania, and that’s going to be their image of those characters.”
A still from Hotel Transylvania.
The “cast” of Hotel Transylvania.
As for the character of Michelle herself, she’s a classic Eunice—Frankenstein’s wife in the film. “She’s brassy,” Michelle explains. “she does not mince words.” As a successful woman in the male-dominated film industry, Michelle is used to doing what is takes to ensure her voice is heard. “It’s important to remember that you don’t have to be one of the guys,” she says, “You have to be who you are. I happen to be a strong female with a strong voice, so I’m just myself.” For Michelle, tapping into this innate femininity has worked in her favor. “I try not to compete with the guys and act like them. Men and women are very different, and what we bring to the table is very unique. With most of the males I’ve worked with, it’s been mostly complementary. Staying true to myself is the most important thing.”
—Emma Aubry Roberts