Triple Knot Productions, Inc. founder Brian Dery filming a scene for "Walking In The Dark: Finding The Light In Autism"

When Brian Dery graduated from Full Sail in 1998, he had a plan similar to the many students that have fixed their bright eyes on a career in the entertainment industry. He would work hard, save money, and make the move to Los Angeles to build a career in film.

In the summer of 1998, Brian was well on his way to making his dream come true by working a good-paying job at a cement company and putting away money for the big move. But after just a few months of work, Brian began to experience unusual muscle weakness. After a lengthy series of medical tests, Brian received a life-changing diagnosis. He had Guillain-Barre Syndrome, a virus that attacks the neurological system and turns the body against itself. Even with a series of 10 treatments, within three months “I’m completely paralyzed,” Brian recalls. “I’m 24 years old. This neurologist walks in and says, ‘Mr. Dery, you are never going to walk again.’”