Surprise Ending!
I think M. Night Shyamalan directed this...
Dan has been telling people what they needed to hear for many years, despite no encouragement to do so. It's particularly his state-school Theater degree which marks him as eminently qualified to inform you on what's most important, though it helps that he reads comic books and plays videogames as well. He grew up in Connecticut and currently lives and works in New York City.