Bob Wilkinson introducing “Shades of Gray”

Bob Wilkinson, one of WV’s leading new filmmakers, presented the expanded 72 minute version of his new film“Shades of Gray,” on Saturday, April 11th at The South Charleston Museum’s La Belle Theater. The film tells the story of Braxton County native Gray Barker who was the most influential person in the 1950s promoting awareness of UFO’s, especially in relation to WV. He invented the idea of “Men In Black,” and wrote extensively about the Braxton County Monster, which made national headlines, the Mothman, the Philadelphia Experiment, and much more. His book, “They Knew Too Much,” was the bible of the suicide cult called Heavens Gate.

 Photo by Amos Perrine. Bob Wilkinson in front of SCM La Belle Theater

The shorter version of the film has been shown at the 2008 Mothman Festival in Point Pleasant, WV and at the 2008 WV Filmmakers Festival.

 Photo by Amos Perrine. Myself, Bob and his mother Diane eating at the Main Tin before the film

Wilkinson told me that the media group Media 8 Entertainment will be distributing the film, first to film festivals around the country and world, then in commercial film showings, and finally on television. They are known for distributing the Oscar-winning winning film “Monster” about a female serial killer that got star CharlizeTheron an Oscar for best actress. They are also interested in two other projects to be directed by Wilkinson including his coming film on Clarksburg serial killer, Harry Powers, called Rev. Harry Powell in “The Night of the Hunter” by Davis Grubb,  who was one of America’s first known serial killers.

 Bob, mother Diane, daughter Storm and wife Charessa eating dinner before film

Music for the film was created by WV musician Michael Lipton, a “Mountain Stage” crew member, founder of “Graffiti magazine,” author of a history of “Mountain Stage,” and founder of the WV Music Hall of Fame.

About fifty people attended the premiere including Wilkinson’s family and some students of Robert Tinnell, the producer along with his brother Jeff Tinnell,  of the film through Allegheny Image Factory. The students drove down from Pennsylvania where they take courses taught by Tinnell. He is the director of The Factor Digital Filmmaking Program at Douglas – located in
Monessen, PA.  The program was founded by fx wizard Tom Savini and
Douglas owner Jeff Imbrescia. The program is on the same campus as the world-class

Tom
Savini’s Special Make-Up Effects Program. ( Savini has worked on many classic horror films including the “Night of the Living Dead” films directed by George Romero.)

Wilkinson introduced the film and answered questions afterwards. One fellow in attendance said that his family owned the drive-in movie theater where Barker once lived. Another audience member knows the Barker family who lives near his family’s farm in rural Braxton County.

Read my review of the shorter version of the film that was first shown at the 2008 WV Filmmakers Festival. The film won the “best feature documentary” award at the festival.

WV Writers blog story on film.

Charleston Gazette interview with Wilkinson on the film.

WVPBS radio story on the film with a clip.

After the show – neon marquee

This entry was posted on Monday, April 13, 2009 at 8:01 am and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.