Documentary filmmaker Chris Smith, known for American Movie and Netflix profiles of Jim Carrey and Wham!, turns his lens to a lesser-known story: Eternal Values, a cult founded in 1980s New York by the charismatic Frederick von Mierers, which attracted a following of models. The new HBO miniseries Bring Me the Beauties explores how a group of successful models became ensnared in a web of manipulation and self-improvement rhetoric.
Smith became interested after meeting Hoyt Richards, often called the first male supermodel, who was a former member. "What was odd about this story is that there was very little about it online," Smith said. Richards became the series' backbone, but convincing others to speak took years. "They were all incredibly thoughtful, insightful, articulate people," Smith noted, "who talked about their experience in a way I found interesting and thought-provoking."
The series balances the 1980s new-age mysticism of Eternal Values with darker elements, especially after von Mierers' death in the 1990s, when the group tightened control over Richards' life. Smith draws parallels to contemporary influencer culture and wellness trends, noting, "Frederick was ahead of the curve in promoting peak performance. He would have done incredibly well in the age of social media."
Bring Me the Beauties also captivates through its archival footage, sourced from VHS tapes and public access shows. "I felt like a character of the story was New York in the 80s and 90s," Smith said, deliberately preserving the degraded quality to evoke the era. The series is structured in three episodes: hope and promise, downfall, and aftermath.
Rather than condemning Eternal Values outright, the show offers a multifaceted view. "Life is rarely black and white," Smith said. "Everyone we spoke to had a slightly different take—some felt their experience was positive. Those are more interesting than painting with one broad brushstroke."
Smith hopes viewers will reflect on their own susceptibility to cult-like dynamics. "We all can be susceptible to these things to different degrees," he said.
Bring Me the Beauties premieres on HBO in the US on June 1 and on Max in the UK and Australia on June 2.