Research: Analysis of opening of Juno

5 Key points that are revealed by the introduction to Juno

Sound track. 
The music is quite a folk style, relaxed song, which would indicate that the film would have this tone. It is a lot different to a lot of other film beginnings, where more upbeat, action packed music may be used, exciting the viewer, whereas Juno seems to be more about relaxing the viewer. The sound track used is composed by Barry Polisar, who is a children's entertainer, this establishes a childish atmosphere to the opening.

Slow pace of the editing.

There are no action cuts, or fast paced transitions in the opening to Juno, again this is quite different to how other movies begin. It perhaps is to connote that Juno is in no kind of rush, and is quite a layed back type of girl, this builds up here character so the audience gets to know her better, thus being more interested and absorbed into the movie.

Juno's clothing.

Juno doesn't appear to be wearing the usual clothes of a 16 year old girl, her attire is that of a tomboy, perhaps an unconventional character (again, this builds her character up, and we come to understand that she in not like normal girls, this may interest the reader) Her clothes portray a sense of rebellion, perhaps this is why she is seen walking through a 'normal' town, Jason Reitman may have been using Levi Strauss' theory of binary opposition, the two contrasting figures being Juno and society.

Mis En Scene.

The general style of the opening is very different to most conventional movie openings, and this says alot about the genre of the movie, the playful music, childish rotoscoping and the movement of Juno all indicate this is going to be a fun, layed back, indie movie. Once she gets to the drug store, an enigma is established, 'Where is she going?' and the user can then begin to understand the coming of age aspect to the film, this narrative method is Barthes' Enigma Code. Another way to show that Juno is an unconventional character, different from society, would be the use of colour, whilst the background (ie, the town) is all washed out, Juno is in colour, which emphasises her individuality. Tzvetan Todorov's five stage theory is also used in the film, the Mis En Scene of the whole opening really helps to define the initial state of equilibrium.

Title credits.

Usually films opening credits are very bold and in your face, where as in Juno, they are alot more subtle, and again, childish. The way in which they are drawn onto the frame makes the movie seem playful. However, they are very clear and hard to miss, so the viewer is not likely to miss one of the cast/producers. Also, no one name seems to be favoured over another, there is a subtle feeling that everyone is equal, which is quite characteristic of an indie film.