Advertisement that runs before the main feature — cinema or streaming. Typically 15–30 seconds, paced differently than the feature itself.
Commercials before the main feature follow their own production logic — and you notice it immediately when switching from a feature shoot to a pre-roll production. While your feature might run for over 40 shooting days and build narrative time, a pre-roll compresses a message into 15, 20, or 30 seconds. This forces different rhythms: faster cuts, more concise lighting, aggressive color grading. A cinema spot needs to work on a 15-meter screen and grab the audience in the first second — subtle facial expressions won't help you there.
The technical requirements also differ. Pre-rolls are usually produced in 4K, often even at a higher frame rate or with special codec specifications for cinema servers. Streaming pre-rolls have different specifications — DCP masters for cinema, H.264 or VP9 for platforms. The grading process is snappier: you have less time for experimentation, and the color correction usually follows strictly defined brand guidelines. Flicker prevention, loudness optimization, format security — everything must be flawless because deviations are immediately noticeable when a thousand viewers see them simultaneously.
On set itself, you often work with smaller crews and more compact shooting schedules. A pre-roll is frequently shot in one to two days, sometimes even in one day with multiple setups in parallel. This requires efficiency and quick decisions on lighting and camera — you can't experiment like you would on a five-week shooting schedule. The composition must be right immediately, and the look is often already determined in the storyboard.
An important difference from feature cinematography: pre-rolls use aggressive cuts and visual effects more intensely. Motion graphics, fast transitions, text overlays — the timing must be absolutely precise. Unlike feature cinematography, where you let space and time breathe, here you pack maximum information into minimal duration. Nevertheless, image quality should not suffer — especially for product spots or premium brands, technical perfection is non-negotiable. Your lighting must be just as thoughtful, only more condensed.