Concept and synopsis ), it intersperses with
black-and-white scenes of her portraying a scientist in a research facility with the girl in full color (below). Pilliero utilized color as a
rhetorical device to distinguish the antagonists (in
monochrome) from the misfits or "people like us" (in color). The accompanying music video for "People Like Us" was directed by
Chris Marrs Piliero. Filmed on April 9, 2013 at Mission Street Laboratories in
South Pasadena, California, it utilizes a
2.39:1 anamorphic format (similar to "Catch My Breath"). A twenty-second preview of the video was broadcast on
E! News on May 24, 2013, with the full video premiering on
VEVO on May 28, 2013. The video utilizes several special effects shots, including the use of
chroma key compositing and
computer-generated imagery. In the video, Clarkson portrays a scientist breaking away from a
monochromatic atmosphere and into a colorful one, accompanied with a young girl in full color. The video, which uses the radio edit of the song, begins with a footage of Clarkson performing, alternating with scenes of her joining a group of scientists examining a young girl (played by twins Rebecca & Vanessa Rogers) in a research facility. The scenes in the facility were presented in
black-and-white form, with the exception of the young girl being presented in
full color to distinguish her in a drab, monochromatic world. Throughout the chorus, Clarkson furtively takes snapshots of the girl using a
Nokia Lumia 920, an example of
product placements used in the video. She then sneaks into the girl's holding cell and lets her wipe a part of her face, revealing a colored look. The two try to escape the facility while being chased by its guards. Riding in a red
BMW Z4 while being followed, the two, Clarkson now in full color, drive through a tunnel with a bright light at the end. At the tunnel's end, the guards try apprehend them, but were stopped in flabbergast when other people in full color intervene and after discovering a world changing from black-and-white into color. The video zooms out to show a
fractal landscape terrain and ends with a shot of Clarkson singing the last line, now revealing a full colored appearance.
Reception The video received positive reviews from various critics, with many of them comparing the video's monochromatic treatment to the 1998 film
Pleasantville. Emily Blake of
MTV wrote that "Clarkson reminds her fans that differences really are what makes the world colorful." Courtney Smith of
CBS Radio compared the final scene of the video to
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. She also wrote, "This sort of cinematic setting is nothing unusual for the director Piliero, although we've never seen him interconnect so many influences in one video before." Paul Duren of
The Dallas Morning News wrote in his review, "The video is one of Kelly’s most creative ones, and with the most ads too. You can see Nokia and BMW getting the "in your face" treatment, but it really doesn't take much away from the video. All in all, the video gives a clear representation of the song and drives the point of the song home." Jayvee from The Round Table also pointed out a similar review, he wrote, "Aside from the insane amount of product placements (Nokia Windows Phone, BMW, etc.), which is new territory for Clarkson, the overall video concept and message behind the song is pretty damn cool." The video received a nomination for a
MTV Video Music Award for Best Video with a Message at the
2013 MTV Video Music Awards. == Live performances ==