Lauren Hertzberg is a managing partner at creative editorial company Cut + Run, which provides offline editing services and partners with Jogger for VFX work. Cut + Run has offices in Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Austin, Dallas and London. Hertzberg joined the company in 2016 as an executive producer and now leads the New York office.

Known for her eye for talent and strong client relationships, Hertzberg brings more than 20 years of post experience to her work. Her credits span commercials, short films and music videos, including the Netflix short film Zion, which was shortlisted for an Academy Award. Hertzberg serves as vice president of the AICP East Board, is a member of the AICP Post Council and supports sustainability initiatives through Green The Bid. In October 2025, she had the opportunity to serve on the Ciclope executive jury as jury president for post-production and animation.

Let’s find out more about Hertzberg and how she likes to work…

What does being a managing partner entail?
Broadly, I work in close partnership with the company’s global management team while also developing and growing the creative and production talent in New York. Specifically, I oversee the day-to-day operation of our business.

A standard day can include discussing potential collaborations with clients, creating bespoke reels for our editors and working with our production team to map out the best approach for a project. I then speak with my counterpart at Cut + Run LA and with our partners at The Quarry in London, researching new editorial talent, working alongside our HR manager to make sure our team is getting the support it needs, speaking with our editors about their creative goals, and working with the HOP and creative director of our finishing department, Jogger Studios — all while thinking about new ways to elevate our business.

What would surprise people the most about what falls under that title?
Much of my day is spent navigating interpersonal relationships. I was a sociology/criminology major at the University of Colorado, Boulder, and while I wasn’t a film major, I do get to apply what I learned in college in my role. Critical thinking, human behavior, communication and problem-solving were a big part of my studies. And I find that these are some of the same skills I use to this day while running a company and working with creatives and clients.

What have you learned over the years about running a business?
You never know how market fluctuations or tech advancements might impact your business, so it’s important to be flexible and surround yourself with smart, inquisitive people who want to figure it out with you when there is a shift.

Another lesson I’ve learned is that the strength of our work is inseparable from the strength of the independent creative companies behind it. I had the honor of serving as president of the Ciclope post production and animation jury in October, an experience that reinforced for me that the most impactful work grows out of a deep commitment to craft.

Has AI been playing a role in your business? What other trends are you seeing?
Our West Coast team has been leading the charge when it comes to AI for our business. On a big-picture level, we are staying up to date on how production companies, agencies and brands are approaching AI. And on a more day-to-day level, we are using AI as a tool for workflow implementation as well as Generative AI to replace or enhance processes within the offline edit. When it comes to using AI as part of the finishing process at Jogger Studios, we use a closed-box system and always keep IP top of mind.

There is an art form to AI generation, and we have found that with prompting, you need both a creative and analytical eye. Because our creative leads at Cut + Run and Jogger Studios have that perfect combination of both, they have really taken to using AI to enhance projects. And it’s just one more example of how closely our offline and online teams collaborate, especially on projects that involve AI components.

AI capabilities are evolving at such a rapid pace that we sometimes find ourselves learning and teaching simultaneously. Post companies have always been adaptable, so immersing ourselves in AI was the next logical step. When we transitioned from film to digital media back in the day, we had to learn while educating our agency partners to stay ahead of the curve. And we are finding the same to be true when it comes to AI, although it’s safe to say that AI is evolving at a much faster pace.

A lot of the job must be about trying to keep employees and clients happy. How do you balance that?
We begin by investing a significant amount of time and thought into ensuring our staff feels supported and treated equally. Our team, in turn, naturally supports one another when inevitable problems arise, as we have worked to create an environment where that is championed. With that ethos as our foundation, we can focus on our clients without compromising the needs of our employees.

Any tips for those in a similar position?
Creating a network of peers in your industry is an invaluable resource. It’s important to be able to hear what your counterparts are dealing with and to have the opportunity to pick their brains when you hit a wall. As the vice president of the AICP East Board and a member of the AICP Post Council, I have access to some of the most intelligent and thoughtful folks in the business, and that is so important as we navigate this moment in time.

What’s your favorite part of the job?
Growing new talent, both editors and producers. And I love helping my editors achieve whatever their definition of success is.

What’s your least favorite?
No one told me there would be this much math.

If you didn’t have this job, what would you be doing instead?
My dad is a film producer, and I followed in his footsteps into that branch of the “family business.” However, my grandmother, mother and brother are teachers, so I think that if I weren’t doing this, I could be teaching. As a creative, my first love is photography, so there is a version of my story where I could be a photographer.

What are three pieces of technology you can’t live without?
Phone. Phone. Phone.

Finally, looking back, how did the company change after COVID and what remains in place today?
Before COVID, we were a strictly in-person business. When the world shut down in March 2020, we quickly put together a remote plan so that our editors could continue editing in real time with our agency partners and our Cut + Run team could stay connected. As it became apparent that the necessity and opportunity to work remotely weren’t going away, we took a step back to ensure the original processes we had put in place were still serving our clients and our team. Today, we are firmly a hybrid company and are able to use the best of in-person and WFH to grow creatively while supporting our clients and nurturing our staff.