Private Project

Quad Life

A young father’s world flips upside down after a tragic accident. This is his story of reinvention as he navigates life as a creative and quadriplegic sound designer.

NOTE: We also have a 20 minute version of the film, if that is preferred.

Longer Synopsis: On the cusp of fatherhood, David Jeffer's world is turned upside down. A tragic accident during a family beach vacation leaves him paralyzed from the neck down, ending his successful career as an automotive engineer.

Quad Life chronicles David's remarkable journey of resilience and reinvention. Witnessing his initial struggles with depression and feelings of inadequacy after losing mobility, the film delves into his despair. Confined to a wheelchair and his engineering career seemingly over, David even contemplates a desperate act.

However, a hidden talent emerges – sound design for animation and motion design production. Leaning on his past experience in hip-hop production and sound engineering, David discovers a new calling. This newfound passion injects hope and purpose back into his life, allowing him to contribute meaningfully to his family.

Quad Life transcends David's personal triumph. It's a powerful testament to the human spirit's strength and perseverance, especially in the face of disability. The film sheds light on the daily struggles of quadriplegics, from basic tasks like eating and dressing to battling every day outside temperatures. The film is not just about David's physical limitations. It's also about the emotional hurdles he overcomes.

We see David navigate fatherhood, his marriage to Yasmine, and the ever-present challenges of being a disabled Black man in America. David's journey culminates in a trip to New York City, the birthplace of hip-hop, with his now-teenage sons. This symbolic pilgrimage underscores the enduring power of his passions and his ability to inspire his sons to dream big.

Quad Life offers a raw and honest portrayal of life as a quadriplegic. More importantly, it's a powerful story brimming with hope, resilience, and the enduring human spirit.

  • Joyce Tsang
    Director
  • David Jeffers
    Key Cast
  • Yasmine Jeffers
    Key Cast
  • Brody Jeffers
    Key Cast
  • Jaxon Jeffers
    Key Cast
  • Ricardo Roberts
    Executive Producer
  • Hung Le
    Executive Producer
  • Alisha Kramer
    Producer
  • David Jeffers
    Producer
  • Stephanie Yang
    Producer
  • Heidi Ruen
    Post Producer
  • Stephanie Yang
    Editor
  • David Jeffers
    Sound Design & Sound Mix
  • Desmond Tsang
    Colorist
  • Dale Goldberg
    Trailer Editor
  • Gabe Colon
    Teaser Editor
  • Elena Dreyer
    Promo & Event Producer
  • Carlos Alegria
    Art Supervisor
  • Carlos Alegria
    Illustrator
  • Alejandro Imondi
    Illustrator/Animator
  • Allyson Schuman
    Illustrator/Animator
  • Andrea Gendusa
    3D Designer/Animator
  • Deanna Reilly
    3D Designer/Animator
  • Sianey Montes de Oca
    Title Designer
  • Frazer Lockhart
    Cinematographer - Charlotte Unit
  • Caleb Goodnight
    Cinematographer - Charlotte Unit
  • Darlene Wells
    1st AC - Charlotte Unit
  • Caleb Childers
    Gaffer - Charlotte Unit
  • Joshua Stowe
    Audio Tech - Charlotte Unit
  • Clyde Covington
    Audio Tech - Charlotte Unit
  • Kyle Meek
    Cinematographer - NYC Unit
  • Pat Smith
    1st AC - NYC Unit
  • Matt Brown
    Audio Tech - NYC Unit
  • Eileen Huang
    PA/BTS - NYC Unit
  • Zippy Etzel
    Camera Operator- Portland Unit
  • Lindsay Trapnell
    Producer - Portland Unit
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Short
  • Runtime:
    36 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    April 1, 2025
  • Production Budget:
    125,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Arri Alexa Mini
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
  • Charlotte Black Film Festival
    Charlotte, NC
    United States
    May 15, 2025
    Award winner: "Made in the Carolinas"
  • Cinema Touching Disability
    Austin, TX
    United States
    September 20, 2025
    Third Prize Winner
Director Biography - Joyce Tsang

Joyce Tsang is a 7-time Emmy-winning producer and filmmaker. She is a partner behind the creative endeavors at Only Today, a B Corp Certified production company. Through pushing the limits for more impactful storytelling, Joyce has opened up opportunities to work with the likes of John Malkovich, Ron Howard, and everyday heroes for projects ranging from Super Bowl opens to eye-opening documentaries.

She has traveled to and filmed in over 25 countries and her work has been commissioned by Apple, CBS, Meta, and Showtime. Joyce was raised in southern California and now rooted in the Pacific Northwest.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

Life deals each of us a unique hand, with a set of challenges and roadblocks. Some hurdles are greater than others, but I believe we are rarely given more than we can handle. When I first came across David’s story, I was drawn to his tenacity and resilience, which resonated deeply with my own values. I truly wanted to understand what drives someone to push forward after such a life-altering accident.

From the start, my only request in telling this story was that David be completely open and vulnerable with us, and to his credit, he did. We covered some very raw, emotional moments and I am grateful for his trust and willingness to open up to the camera — and by extension the audience. That level of honesty shaped our approach through out the film and inspired how we crafted the cold open, which remains one of my favorite scenes. For much of the story I chose to highlight his ability, his determination, and his refusal to let circumstances define him.

One of the challenges in making this film was maintaining perspective and staying true to David’s story. As storytellers, it’s easy to be drawn toward grand, epic moments, but his journey reminded me that an authentic glimpse into this story lies in the everyday. Life isn’t just defined by milestones—it’s also shaped by the small, daily choices we make and the culmination of those triumphs is very much worth celebrating. My hope is that audiences walk away from this film inspired, knowing that resilience and grit makes just about anything possible.