After a rough start at Parkville High, Dan does it all, taking the same classes as the other students, and using his headstick to operate a computer. But Dan truly connects with the world when he discovers art, which gives him a way to communicate his emotions. "The best thing that happened to me had to be art," he says. "Art gave me a way to express myself without anybody interpreting for me -- In my head, there is a sweet siren voice telling me where the brush will move. I obeyed the brush -- the brush became my force." Eventually, Dan's paintings win top awards in art shows throughout Maryland.
Although Dan is accepted at Towson University, in his first year the art department denies his request to become an art major. While Dan considers dropping out, Stuart Stein, a well-known artist on the faculty, agrees to teach Dan and even arranges for him to minor in art. Together they come up with innovative ways to satisfy the art requirements. "If I had more students who had the commitment -- a kind of force behind the things that Danny does," says Stein, "my job would be that much easier."
On graduation day, there are thousands of parents and students in the field house, and they give Dan a standing ovation as he goes across the stage for his diploma, hands thrust in the air waving in victory. King Gimp has taken another step in an intense life journey.
KING GIMP is a Whiteford-Hadary production for the University of Maryland and Tapestry International; directed and photographed by William A. Whiteford; produced by Susan Hannah Hadary and William A. Whiteford; written by Daniel Keplinger; music by Michael Bacon; contributing editor, Loye Miller. Executive producer for Tapestry International, Nancy Walzog. For HBO: senior producer, Carole Rosen; assistant to the executive producer, Sara Bernstein; program assistant, Elli Hakami; production executive, Susan Benaroya; supervising producer, Lisa Heller; editor, Geof Bartz; executive producer, Sheila Nevins.
