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Our company, Clean White Lines, will document these highway-lurking 20 foot tall fiberglass Muffler Men and the humans who love them.

They look like something out of a Tim Burton movie. Maybe you've spotted one; square jaw, broad shoulders, slicked back hair, collared shirt, sly smirk, and arms out stretched (one hand up, one hand down). They are called Muffler Men and they once dotted the highways and byways of America in the late 60s and 70s as fiberglass beacons for cafes, mini golf courses and auto repair shops. Where there were thousands, now there are only a couple hundred. But where did they go? How do you lose a 20 foot tall man? Some have been struck by lightning. Some shot at. Some have been vandalized beyond recognition. Some have been strung up to a tree or turned into flagpoles. Some have even changed races or genders. Each Muffler Man has an interesting back-story, but even more interesting are the kind souls that have dedicated a substantial portion of their lives to preserve and protect these gentle giants of small town advertising Americana.

Our production company, Clean White Lines, wants to expose to the world the wonder of these roadside attractions, and the people surrounding them. In true Muffler Man fashion we will go on a cross country road trip to capture these fiberglass Yeti on film, and talk to collectors, repairers and affectionados of these almost forgotten humanoid billboards. We'll work with the expert M-Men trackers at RoadsideAmerica.com and their accumulated lore on the nation's giant fiberglass beings. We'll dive deep into the quirky underbelly of these hollow small business giants, and maybe even figure out why we are so drawn to see as many of them as possible (and believe us when we say, once you see one, you'll look for them everywhere).

Now for the logistics, and why we need $30,000. We are a crew of 5 (a producer/director, editor, cinematographer, camera assistant, and sound man) and we are attempting to drive over 4,000 miles to film Muffler Men and their owners in many of the 50 states over a 3 week period. The money will go towards food, gas, equipment rental, lodging, insurance, and putting it into festivals. Every tiny bit helps. No pledge is too small, we will take it all. Be a part of our journey and let's bring these Muffler Men out of the shadows and into the limelight, before they disappear.

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65
Backers
$4,295
pledged of $30,000 goal
0
seconds to go

Funding Unsuccessful This project reached the deadline without achieving its funding goal on September 1, 2011.

Funding period
Jul 20, 2011 - Sep 1, 2011

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  • Pledge $5 or more

    1 backer

    Muffler Man digital wallpaper for your computer, laptop, cell phone, ipad or whathaveyou! This applies to all backers who pledge $5 or above!

  • Pledge $10 or more

    7 backers

    You will get a shout out on Clean White Lines' Facebook page for your support!

  • Pledge $25 or more

    21 backers

    Everything above, plus you will become part of the Muffler Men Fan Club and receive our "Notes from the Road." This is our thrice weekly digital newsletter that not only shares pics, and stories of what we are up to, but also tips and recommendations for your next road trip.

  • Pledge $50 or more

    14 backers

    Everything above, plus inclusion in the VIP MM Fan Club. In addition to the digital newsletter, you will receive password protected "Video Notes from the Road." These could be little side interviews, anecdotes, camera tests, or even a music video.

  • Pledge $100 or more

    13 backers

    Everything above, plus 3 collectible Muffler Men trading cards. These double sided color cards portray the best men to ever play the game, their stats and backstory. A true Muffler Man fan must-have.

  • Pledge $250 or more

    0 backers

    Everything above, plus 2 kitschy handwritten souvenir postcards from the road sent directly to you via snail mail.

  • Pledge $500 or more

    1 backer

    Everything above, plus a "Special Thanks" credit in the film.

  • Pledge $1,000 or more

    1 backer

    Everything above, plus a link to the rough cut of the film, in which you can give feedback directly to us about what you want to see in the final edit.

  • Pledge $5,000 or more

    0 backers

    Everything above, plus a producer credit.

  • Pledge $10,000 or more

    0 backers

    Everything above, plus an executive producer credit.