Disney Should Make Beauty and the East

The global populous boasts all types of would-be Prince Charmings, but save for Aladdin and Mulan’s Li Shang, we’re not used to seeing many who aren’t pretty damn white.

Dhruv Uday Singh wrote, edited, and directed a short that’s got a problem with that.

A punchy commentary on the typically white identity of the post-magic Beast, the five-and-a-half-minute piece produced by Tayler Vee Robinson and shot by Alyssa Brocato sees Singh waking up to Cate Scott Campbell as Belle, “man-dog�-to-human transformation complete. Only, instead of a tall, lanky blond, Belle’s staring down a person of color. Pushing past her disappointment into earnest, racist curiosity, she asks, “What kind of brown are you?� The Beast could not be more confused: “Belle, the whole time you’ve known me, I’ve been a very hairy brown guy. I didn’t transform from a polar bear or a … a fucking swan!�

Well, now, wait a minute. A swan who turns out to be Dhruv Singh? Yes! Somebody call the Mouse. But not before you watch Beauty and the East.

Luke is executive producer and head of development at Big Breakfast and a watcher of many web videos. Send him yours @LKellyClyne.