Get tickets online for Nerd Nite Hudson Valley May 16 here.

Join Rob McConnell as he welcomes Bob Wilkinson, documentary filmmaker, director, producer, writer, editor and cinematographer behind Shades of Gray, a feature-length documentary examining the fascinating and controversial life of Gray Barker, one of the most influential—and notorious—figures in the history of American UFO culture. Wilkinson's appearance is preserved in The 'X' Zone archives under “Shades of Gray – Director/Producer.” Barker became a prominent figure in the flying-saucer world after the 1952 Flatwoods Monster incident in West Virginia. His 1956 book They Knew Too Much About Flying Saucers helped popularize the mysterious Men in Black, alleged sinister visitors said to intimidate UFO witnesses into silence. Barker published books and newsletters about UFOs and the unexplained, but evidence later emerged showing that he was also willing to participate in hoaxes and embellish stories. That combination of researcher, publisher, entertainer and myth-maker makes Barker one of the most intriguing personalities in UFO history. Wilkinson's documentary doesn't simply recount flying-saucer stories. Using interviews with Barker's relatives, friends, UFO researchers and people who knew him, along with archival material and dramatic recreations, Shades of Gray investigates the man behind the mythology. The film features such recognizable figures from UFO history as Stanton Friedman, Jerome Clark, James Moseley and T. Allen Greenfield, while examining Barker's connections to UFOs, Men in Black, the Flatwoods Monster and other elements of paranormal folklore. Wilkinson served as director, producer, co-writer, cinematographer and co-editor of the documentary. Join Rob McConnell and Bob Wilkinson on The 'X' Zone Radio Show for a fascinating look behind the curtain of the UFO industry. Was Gray Barker documenting genuine mysteries, deliberately manufacturing mythology, entertaining an eager audience—or doing a little of all three? And how many stories now regarded as established pieces of UFO folklore began with storytellers who discovered that an extraordinary mystery could sometimes sell better than an ordinary truth? Shades of Gray offers a revealing examination of belief, skepticism, hoaxes, entertainment and the making of modern UFO mythology.