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Action!
When their camera lens found Dan Keplinger, the star of "King Gimp" they already knew what others would soon learn, that Dan is a star, in the truest sense of the word. Dan's energy and spirit shown
throughout the 13 years Hadary and Whiteford spent with Dan, from a 12-year-old about to be mainstreamed in the education system, to a college graduate, as they filmed sequence after sequence of Dan's daily life. If living is in
the details, and it is, Dan's life shows a remarkable brilliance for courage, persistence and fortitude in overcoming the boundaries of cerebral palsy. Quiet -- filming in progress
If you've seen the film, then you
know there aren't any hiding places. Dan lets it all hang out. He is who he is, a guy getting the job of day-to-day living behind him while achieving his goals and dreams along the way. Never mind that he gets down on the floor
to put his clothes on, that he uses a wheelchair to get around or that his speech is difficult to understand. Leave that all behind. Dan gives the old adage 'where there's a will-there's a way' new meaning. He wrote the script
for the film with a stick attached to special headgear pounding out each individual letter and had the leading role in the film. "We looked for a person who had a powerful spirit. Dan certainly shined in that area. He is
very independent and has a strong will to succeed. He'll try anything," stated Whiteford. With a film project that spanned over a decade, bonds are destined to form between filmmakers and the subject. "For us the
beauty of making the documentary is that we developed a relationship and shared life experiences," said Whiteford. "Our work is our life and it is a beautiful life," Hadary put it succinctly. Both Hadary and
Whiteford, along with Keplinger agreed that winning the award has special meaning, not just to the disability community but to humanity in general. "There have been some inquires about Dan's life story. I think that would make
an excellent film. All the ingredients are there," stated Whiteford. Changing it around
In Keplinger's continuing quest for independence and challenges, his time spent at Townson University gave him a number of opportunities. "I had the opportunity to work with Dan for four years. His Drawing I class turned out not to be a good situation for Dan. I had a
conversation with the chairperson, I thought there needed to be certain accommodations, someone who would work with him. I volunteered," ~~ Stuart Stein, assistant professor of art and MFA
program director at Towson University stated. In order to make those changes a meeting was held for students with disabilities at the University. At that meeting, Stein met Hadary and Whiteford, who were already involved in
filming the documentary. "Sometimes, people may view their daily lives as difficult. Dan is really an inspiration. Everything he does would be difficult for most people," stated Stein.
But Keplinger is not like most people. "It is about inner strength, determination and what is possible. I think people like Dan are path markers. It takes a really strong person. Hopefully, in 10 to 15 years people with
cerebral palsy will be more in evidence at the University," said Stein. Taking a bite out of art
Having received his BA with an art minor, Keplinger plans on returning to school to study painting and may decide to
go for his master's. "A master's in fine art is terminal; the highest degree in the field," said Stein. "Dan's work is kind of representational and fairly expressive. He puts a lot of himself into it."
What artists ultimately want is exposure for their creative efforts. The Phyllis Kind Gallery in New York is currently showing an exhibition of Keplinger's artwork. "It's a great opportunity for Danny. Over time his
paintings will get better and better," said Stein. "Someone like Dan reminds me that anything is possible." |
