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The Making of 'Murderball'

Team USA Player Mark Zupan from 'Murderball'

Team USA star player Mark Zupan, right, in a scene from Murderball.

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'Murderball' Directors Henry-Alex Rubin and Dana Adam Shapiro

'Murderball' directors Henry-Alex Rubin and Dana Adam Shapiro (right).

The new documentary Murderball looks at the rough-and-tumble world of quad rugby — otherwise known as "murderball."

Participants in the sport must have a combination of upper- and lower-body impairment. They compete in specially outfitted wheelchairs on a basketball court in four, eight-minute quarters. The film, which won the audience award at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival, begins with a look at the 2002 World Championship in Sweden.

Murderball focuses largely on Mark Zupan, a top-rated player and the spokesman for Team USA. Dana Adam Shapiro co-produced and co-directed the film. He is a former senior editor for Spin Magazine and founder of Icon magazine.

Zupan and Shapiro speak with Fresh Air host Terry Gross.

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