The HBO docuseries Bring Me the Beauties sheds light on a little-known, image-obsessed cult from the 1980s. Documentary filmmaker Chris Smith, known for his work on films like the seminal 1999 documentary American Movie and Netflix projects profiling figures like Jim Carrey, Andy Kaufman, Devo, Wham!, and the Fyre festival, tackles a story with surprisingly scarce background material.
His new HBO miniseries, Bring Me the Beauties, delves into the rise and fall of Eternal Values, a cult founded in the 80s by the eccentric Frederick von Mierers, which predominantly attracted models. “What was odd about this story,” Smith shared, “is that there was very little about it online.”
Smith encountered Hoyt Richards, often cited as the first male supermodel and a former member of Eternal Values, during another project. “As we started talking, hours went by,” Smith recalled. “It was one of those situations where I just became more and more curious about his life.” Richards became the central figure of the series, participating in numerous extensive interviews. However, he remained uncertain if Smith and his team could persuade others to share their experiences.
As the series reveals, the recollections of those who encountered Von Mierers vary significantly. Some individuals are not even convinced they were part of a cult at all.
‘We Can All Be Susceptible’: How Did a Group of Models Fall Victim to a Cult?
The HBO docuseries Bring Me the Beauties shines a spotlight on a less-publicized, image-conscious cult from the 80s. Filmmaker Chris Smith, whose past works include the acclaimed 1999 film American Movie and Netflix documentaries on subjects like Jim Carrey and the Fyre festival, explores a narrative with surprisingly limited readily available information.
His latest project for HBO, Bring Me the Beauties, examines the trajectory of Eternal Values, a cult established in the 1980s by the peculiar Frederick von Mierers, which largely comprised models. Smith noted, “What was unusual about this story was how little information was available online.”
Smith met Hoyt Richards, formerly a prominent male supermodel and an ex-member of Eternal Values, while working on a different assignment. “As we began to converse, the hours flew by,” Smith recounted. “It was the kind of scenario where my curiosity about his life grew steadily.” Richards proved to be the linchpin of the series, participating in many hours of interviews. Nevertheless, he was unsure if Smith and his colleagues could secure the participation of other former members.
The series illustrates that not everyone’s account of their interaction with Von Mierers aligns, and some individuals are not even convinced they were involved in a cult.