0:00initial problem setup A medium shot frames five empty, clear glass tumblers neatly arranged in a straight line on a dark, polished wooden surface. The background is a vibrant, solid sky blue. A light-skinned hand, holding a clear glass pitcher, enters the frame from the top right. The hand proceeds to pour clear liquid, which turns vibrant red upon entering the first glass, then bright yellow in the second, electric blue in the third, deep green in the fourth, and finally, a rich red in the fifth glass. Each glass is filled completely, creating a colorful line-up. The overall lighting is bright and even, casting subtle reflections on the glass and wood. Text overlays at the top left show 'attn:' in white, and a larger white text states: 'These glasses of water prove why people can't afford to live on the minimum wage.'
0:04paycheck as pitcher The scene features a clear glass pitcher, approximately half-filled with clear water, positioned centrally on a dark, polished wooden surface. The background remains a solid, vibrant sky blue. The lighting is soft and even, highlighting the transparency of the pitcher and the shimmer of the water. White text overlay at the bottom center reads: 'Imagine this pitcher is a paycheck'. In the top left corner, the 'amazon' logo appears in white, indicating a brand presence. The shot is static and clean, drawing focus to the pitcher as a symbolic representation.
0:07check writing close up A tight close-up shot focuses on a paper document, resembling a check or a financial statement, in soft, diffused lighting. The paper is off-white with visible black printed text and handwritten numbers. The word 'DOLLARS' is clearly discernible in bold capital letters. A light-skinned hand, holding a pen, enters the frame to make a mark or signature on the document. The background is a soft blur of the paper, emphasizing the foreground action. White text at the bottom center reads: 'that pays a living wage,'. The 'amazon' logo is present in the top left corner.
0:09living wage expenses filling The shot returns to a medium view of five empty, clear glass tumblers lined up on a dark wooden surface against a vibrant sky-blue background. A light-skinned hand, holding a clear glass pitcher full of water, pours liquid into each glass sequentially. As the liquid enters, it fills the glasses with distinct colors: the first becomes a rich red, the second a bright yellow, the third an electric blue, the fourth a deep green, and the fifth a rich red again. Each glass is filled to the brim. As each glass is filled, white text labels appear above them identifying the 'expense category': 'Food', 'Medical', 'Housing', 'Transportation', 'Other'. White text overlays the bottom of the screen, providing context: 'meaning it's enough to pay for all the things you need to live. You've got expenses, each glass represents an expense category, and you can fill them all up'. The 'amazon' logo is at the top left.
0:17empty pitcher savings The scene displays a clear glass pitcher, now completely empty, sitting on the dark wooden surface. The blue background is consistent with previous shots. The pitcher reflects the blue environment, appearing clean and pristine. A blue rectangular box with white text, 'Money in the Bank', appears in the center of the frame, serving as a prominent graphic overlay. Below this, white text states: 'with maybe a little bit of savings left over.' The 'amazon' logo is in the top left corner. The lighting is bright and even, emphasizing the emptiness of the pitcher after the 'paycheck' has been distributed.
0:20minimum wage fact avatar A dynamic, slightly Dutch-angled shot focuses on a large, illuminated movie poster for 'Avatar', presumably at a red carpet event or premiere. The poster prominently features the striking blue eye of a Na'vi character, glowing with an internal light, set against a dark, cosmic background with shimmering blue particles. The overall color palette is dominated by deep blues, blacks, and hints of yellow-green in the eye. White text overlays the center of the screen: 'Since 2009, the federal minimum wage has been $7.25/hour.' The 'amazon' logo is visible in the top left corner. The background beyond the poster is blurry, suggesting a public, crowded setting, but the focus is sharply on the graphic and text.
0:22minimum wage fact coins An overhead close-up shot of numerous small, metallic coins (appearing to be US pennies, dimes, and quarters) scattered across a warm brown, wooden surface. The coins are piled unevenly, some overlapping, creating a textured pattern. Additional coins are poured into the frame from the top, landing and scattering among the existing pile. The lighting is soft but highlights the metallic sheen of the coins. White text overlays the center of the screen: 'Since 2009, the federal minimum wage has been $7.25/hour.' In the top left corner, the 'attn:' logo is present. The motion of the falling coins adds a dynamic element to the otherwise static composition of the pile.
0:27minimum wage avocados An overhead shot presents several vibrant green avocado halves, neatly arranged on a bright, solid yellow background. The avocados are perfectly cut, revealing their creamy green flesh; one half distinctly shows its large brown pit. The arrangement is symmetrical and visually appealing. The lighting is bright and even, creating crisp shadows beneath the avocados, emphasizing their form and freshness. White text overlay at the bottom center reads: 'Yep, that's like 3 avocados at your local fancy grocer.' The 'attn:' logo is positioned in the top left corner. This clean, graphic shot highlights the contrast between the low minimum wage and everyday costs.
0:30calendar paycheck calculation A close-up shot focuses on a white paper calendar page, where a hand, holding a red marker, is seen drawing a bold red circle around the number '8', presumably marking a date or a pay period. Other dates and calendar grid lines are visible but slightly out of focus. The lighting is bright and direct, highlighting the red marker's ink against the white paper. White text at the bottom center states: 'So, a two-week paycheck [on minimum wage] is around $527 after taxes.' The 'amazon' logo is in the top left corner, signifying the video's sponsorship. The image is crisp, emphasizing the action of marking the calendar.
0:32paycheck amount pitcher A medium shot centers on a clear glass pitcher, held by a light-skinned hand, resting on a dark wooden surface. The pitcher contains clear water, approximately one-third full. The background is a consistent, vibrant sky blue. A blue rectangular box with the white text '$527' appears on the left side of the pitcher, emphasizing the calculated paycheck amount. This graphic is then accompanied by white text at the bottom: 'is around $527 after taxes.' A smaller, faint text disclaimer is visible at the very bottom, likely citing sources. The 'amazon' logo is present in the top left. The lighting is bright and even, accentuating the clarity of the pitcher and the water.
0:36receipt not living wage A tight close-up shot displays a white paper receipt or financial statement, covered with columns of numbers and text in black ink. The numbers vary in value, some appearing as monetary figures, others as item counts. The paper is slightly textured. White text overlays the center of the screen, stating: 'Experts say this is not a living wage.' The 'attn:' logo is positioned in the top left corner. The lighting is neutral, providing clear visibility of the financial details on the document, underscoring the disparity between the presented numbers and a 'living wage' definition. A small, faint text disclaimer is visible at the very bottom, likely citing sources.
0:39woman serious expression A medium close-up shot centers on a young adult Black woman with short, curly reddish-brown hair, styled in a pixie cut. She wears a colorful, abstract-patterned blouse with shades of purple, blue, and pink, and a delicate gold chain necklace. Her facial expression is neutral to slightly serious, looking directly into the camera with dark, expressive eyes. Her head is tilted slightly, suggesting thoughtfulness. The background is a solid, vibrant purple, providing a stark contrast to her dark skin tone and colorful attire. The lighting is soft and even, highlighting her features. The 'attn:' logo is visible in the top left corner.
0:41black white family dinner This black and white archival footage shows a traditional 1950s-era family of four (father, mother, a young boy, and a young girl) gathered around a dining table. The mother, dressed in a light-colored dress and apron, stands behind the table, appearing to serve food to the family. The father and children are seated, looking towards the mother or their plates. The room is a cozy, domestic setting with patterned curtains and wall decor typical of the era. The lighting is classic black and white, creating a nostalgic or historical feel. White text at the bottom center reads: 'So, here's what it's like for a family of four'. The 'attn:' logo appears in the top left.
0:43woman working kids playing A medium shot captures a modern domestic scene with warm, natural lighting. A young adult woman, with dark hair, wears a black blazer over a white shirt and sits at a wooden table, intently focused on a laptop. She holds a smartphone to her ear, appearing to be on a call. In the soft-focus background, a child hangs upside down from a pull-up bar, playfully swinging, while another person (possibly male) is subtly visible further back. This juxtaposition highlights the challenges of balancing work and family life. White text at the bottom center reads: '—one parent working, the other raising kids'. The 'amazon' logo is in the top left corner.
0:45calculator bills close up A close-up shot focuses on a dark-colored calculator, its buttons clearly visible. A light-skinned hand, likely male, is actively pressing the buttons, performing calculations. Blurred financial documents or papers are visible in the soft-focus background, suggesting a context of budgeting or bill management. The lighting is soft and neutral, emphasizing the task at hand. White text at the bottom center reads: 'to pay the monthly bills on the minimum wage.' The 'amazon' logo is in the top left corner. The scene creates a sense of meticulous, possibly burdensome, financial management.
0:48first job filling glasses The scene reverts to a medium shot of five empty, clear glass tumblers on a dark wooden surface, set against a vibrant sky-blue background. A light-skinned hand, holding a clear glass pitcher full of water, begins to pour liquid into each glass. As the liquid is poured, it turns distinctive colors: red, yellow, blue, green, and red again, filling each glass to varying levels, none fully. A blue rectangular box with white text, 'FIRST JOB', appears prominently in the upper middle of the frame. White text overlays at the bottom, explaining: 'So, let's pay for food, medical costs, housing, transportation, and miscellaneous other costs.' A small disclaimer text is visible at the very bottom. The 'attn:' logo is in the top left.
0:55first job not enough The five clear glass tumblers are shown, partially filled with their respective colored liquids (red, yellow, blue, green, red). They sit on the dark wooden surface against the vibrant sky-blue background. The clear glass pitcher, now empty, is placed to the right of the glasses, indicating that its contents (the 'first job paycheck') have been depleted. White text overlays the bottom of the screen: 'Well, that first pitcher didn't do a great job at bringing home the bacon.' The 'amazon' logo is visible in the top left corner. The static shot and the partially filled glasses visually communicate an inadequacy.
0:58bacon sizzling close up A close-up shot captures several strips of raw bacon sizzling intensely on a hot, dark-grated grill or pan. The bacon is streaked with pink meat and white fat, which renders and bubbles as it cooks, creating small pools of grease. Steam and small bursts of oil are visible, indicating high heat. The lighting is dim but highlights the glistening fat and the texture of the meat. White text overlays the bottom center of the screen: 'bringing home the bacon.' The 'amazon' logo is in the top left corner. The focus is sharp on the bacon, emphasizing the literal interpretation of the idiom.
1:00second job filling glasses The five glasses from the previous scene, still partially filled with colored liquids, are on the dark wooden surface against the sky-blue background. A light-skinned hand, holding a clear glass pitcher, re-enters the frame. This time, the hand pours more clear liquid into the first glass, which is already half-filled with red liquid, filling it closer to the brim. A blue rectangular box with white text, 'SECOND JOB', appears at the top. White text at the bottom says: 'Time for a second job.' The 'amazon' logo is in the top left corner.
1:01third job filling glasses The five glasses continue to be shown on the wooden table against the blue background, now even more full of colored liquids. The light-skinned hand, still holding the clear glass pitcher, pours more clear liquid, topping off the second and third glasses. A blue rectangular box with white text, 'THIRD JOB', appears at the top. White text at the bottom reads: 'And a third? Ok, this is absurd,' A small disclaimer text is visible at the very bottom. The 'attn:' logo is in the top left corner.
1:04fourth job filling glasses The scene continues with the five glasses on the dark wooden table against the sky-blue background. They are mostly full with colored liquids. The light-skinned hand, holding the clear glass pitcher, completes the task by pouring the remaining clear liquid into the last two glasses, finally filling all five to the brim. A blue rectangular box with white text, 'FOURTH JOB', appears at the top. White text overlays at the bottom: 'it will take more than four and a half jobs to feed this family of four on the minimum wage.' The 'amazon' logo is in the top left corner. This sequence emphasizes the extreme effort required to meet basic needs.
1:10impossible reaction vintage Black and white vintage footage shows a medium close-up of a young woman with dark, curly hair partially covered by an ornate, possibly medieval-style headpiece adorned with small spheres. Her eyes are wide and her mouth slightly agape, conveying a look of profound surprise or shock. Other blurred figures or architectural elements are visible in the dark background, suggesting an older film setting. White text overlays the bottom center: 'That's literally impossible.' The 'amazon' logo is in the top left corner. The vintage aesthetic and dramatic facial expression amplify the statement.
1:12single person budgeting A medium shot shows a young adult woman with dark, shoulder-length hair and bangs, wearing a casual striped sweater. She sits comfortably on a couch or chair, illuminated by bright, natural light from a window to her left, creating strong highlights and shadows. She holds a smartphone in her left hand and a pen in her right, actively writing on a white notepad. A white mug is visible on the table or armrest in the foreground. She glances down at her notes, then looks up slightly with a faint, thoughtful smile. White text at the bottom center asks: 'What about your single, 22-year-old Jack or Jill'. The 'attn:' logo is in the top left corner. The scene evokes a personal, relatable budgeting scenario.
1:16single person first job The familiar setup of five empty, clear glass tumblers on a dark wooden surface against a vibrant sky-blue background returns. A light-skinned hand, holding a clear glass pitcher, pours liquid into the first glass, turning it red and filling it to the brim. Another pour into the second glass makes it yellow and partially fills it. White text overlays the bottom of the screen: 'who's just paying for themself. Still, you'll need more than two jobs'. A small disclaimer text is visible at the very bottom. The 'attn:' logo is in the top left corner. This scene illustrates the expenses for a single individual.
1:19single person second job The five glasses on the wooden table against the blue background are now partially filled with colored liquids (one full red, one half-yellow, others empty). The light-skinned hand, holding the clear glass pitcher, continues to pour. More clear liquid is added to the partially filled yellow glass, filling it completely, and then poured into the next empty glass, turning it blue and filling it to about two-thirds. White text overlays the bottom center: 'to have your needs met.' The 'amazon' logo is in the top left corner. The filling process implies that even for a single individual, one job's income is often insufficient.
1:22minimum wage should provide The five clear glass tumblers are now all completely filled with their distinct colored liquids (red, yellow, blue, green, red), sitting on the dark wooden surface against the vibrant sky-blue background. The clear glass pitcher is empty, placed to the right of the glasses, indicating that all 'paycheck' liquid has been distributed. White text overlays the bottom of the screen: 'The minimum wage should at least provide people the minimum they need to live.' The 'amazon' logo is visible in the top left corner. The scene visually concludes the simulation, making a strong statement about the purpose of a minimum wage.
1:25family drinking water A warm, naturally lit medium close-up shot of a man and a child at a table. The man, with dark hair and a mustache, wears a light t-shirt and takes a sip from a clear glass of water. Beside him, a young child, possibly a girl with light brown, curly hair, smiles broadly and looks towards the left, with oranges and bananas visible on the table. The background is a rustic wooden wall with soft light filtering in, suggesting a cozy domestic setting, possibly morning. The lighting is golden and soft. White text overlays the bottom: 'the minimum they need to live.' The 'attn:' logo is in the top left corner. The scene evokes a sense of comfort and basic needs being met.
1:27paychecks run dry faster The scene features three glasses on a dark wooden surface against a sky-blue background: the first two are full of red and yellow liquid respectively, while the third is empty. A light-skinned hand, holding a clear glass pitcher, pours clear liquid into the empty third glass, turning it blue and filling it approximately halfway. The hand then moves to pour into an unseen glass to the right. White text overlays the bottom of the screen: 'but today paychecks run dry faster than people can pay their bills.' The 'attn:' logo is in the top left corner. This sequence reinforces the message of insufficient wages, depicting the struggle to fill even a few expense categories.
1:32share video call to action The scene displays five clear glass tumblers, now mostly full with various colored liquids, positioned on the dark wooden surface. The background is split vertically: the left half is a deep, dark blue, making the glasses on that side appear silhouetted, while the right half maintains the vibrant sky-blue. Large, bold white text overlays the right side of the screen: 'SHARE THIS VIDEO' followed by 'if you think full-time workers should make enough to live.' Below this, smaller white text highlights 'SOURCES' and 'GETTY IMAGES', with a very small list of text-based sources scrolling upwards from the bottom right. The 'attn:' logo is in the top left corner. This is a clear call to action.
1:37production credits end card This scene is an end card, featuring the same visual as the previous, with five colored glasses on a dark wooden surface against a vertically split blue background (dark blue left, vibrant sky-blue right). Large, bold white text on the right side reads: 'ENTERTAINMENT THAT INFORMS'. Below this, white production credits are listed: 'Produced By: Stan Okumura', 'Edited By: Jacob Iritani', 'Shot by: Jacob Iritani', 'Executive Producer: Clare Stein'. The 'attn:' logo is in the top left corner. The scene provides final acknowledgments and branding.
1:39final message sponsored The scene transitions to a solid black screen with white text appearing sequentially. First, 'It's time to raise the federal minimum wage.' appears. This is followed by 'We've seen the benefits of a $15/hr starting wage since 2018.' appearing below the first line. Finally, 'SPONSORED BY amazon' with the Amazon logo below it, appears at the bottom center. The lighting is stark, with bright white text against a dark black background, creating a clear and impactful final message. This serves as a concluding statement and sponsorship acknowledgment.
