Two Films About Bohemian Grove

Two very different films about Bohemian Grove were made in the past year.

The FIRST film, shown on British TV, was a documentary produced by Jon Ronson of World of Wonder Ltd. with headquarters in London and Los Angeles. (Click here to see a letter to Mr. Ronson from an unhappy person who participated in its creation!) It featured national talk show host Alex Jones who infiltrated the Grove in the summer of 2000 and filmed the entire Cremation of Care ceremony using a tie tack video camera. Unfortunately Mr. Jones' interpretation of events drew several bizarre conclusions including allegations of Satanic worship and human sacrifice. Although these rumors have been around for years it has never been the position of Bohemian Grove Action Network that there is any credibility to them. Our position is that we are concerned about the harm these men are doing in the OUTSIDE world and we are quite disappointed in the tone and conclusions of this documentary. For more information about this film you can email wow@worldofwonder.net or call 323 603 6300.

The SECOND film called TEDDY BEAR'S PICNIC (see review, below) was produced by VISIONBOX pictures in conjunction with satirist Harry Shearer and features such well known actors as Morgan Fairchild, Howard Hesseman, Alan Thicke and George Wendt. It is a spoof on Bohemian Grove thinly disguised as Zambesi Glen. The following statements are taken from the films production notes.

"A comic junket behind the scenes of the world's most exclusive power broker retreat. The true story: the richest, most powerful white men in America gather each summer in Northern California for a super secret retreat that takes them back to their sophomore year in college. For fifty one weeks a year they run the free world. For one week they run amok. They're there to unwind but they get really unwound when that secrecy is threatened."

"Based on the exclusive men's retreat Bohemian Grove, where the likes of Richard Nixon, Henry Kissinger, Malcolm Forbes and William F. Buckley, have been known to play, TEDDY BEARS'S PICNIC is a wicked little satire about power, class and to a small degree, sex."

July 2001

Contrary to public opinion we serious protesters DO have a good sense of humor so let me state up front that I loved the film TEDDY BEARS PICNIC in spite of its rather simplistic portrayal of all the folks yelling at the Bohemian/Zambezians as they made their way to and from the Grove/Glen.

As a twenty year organizer of the protests at Bohemian Grove in Northern California I even recognized myself in the character of the shrill white lady at the beginning of the film except I would have had a hell of a better sound bite than she did. After all, one learns quickly that you have to make your point in a matter of seconds and even then the whole thing is seldom heard.

With that minor criticism aside I am very grateful for the time, energy and sheer brilliance that went into making this film. For those unfamiliar with the culture of this retreat for the ruling elite, there were alot of inside jokes that might be unappreciated. The EXTINGUISHING OF TIME ritual instead of the CREMATION OF CARE ritual was brilliant as was the Pelican instead of the Owl. The concept of CARE was there in another context however and even stayed true to what we assume was the original meaning of this rather questionable practice. We have often wondered why it was necessary to "cremate" something that many of us question these men have in the first place!!

While I would have liked to see more offhand dialogue about world affairs between these guys there were enough references to make the point that it does go on in spite of their motto to the contrary. The "Lakeside Talks" have long been a way to float policy ideas without public scrutiny and I appreciate that being shown. The film really captured the shallowness, silliness and out of touchness that we wish we didn't know about our countries corporate culture and its "leaders". Scary stuff when you think about it!!

I loved the almost obligatory "peeing on the redwood" scene and the rather excessive drinking (aka drug use) was true to form. And the line about the fire threatening vineyards as well as marijuana gardens says it all about the diversity of cultures that exist in this place we call home. We will continue to wonder why one is legal and the other is not.

This film captured these guys in a way that a serious film couldn't. Maybe with something like Bohemian Grove satire is the most powerful weapon to use to make a point. If one can entertain while holding up a mirror to the human condition perhaps attitudes can actually change. Even the disclaimer from the lawyers in the opening credits was very funny, a clever way to get around a lawsuit and for me set the tone to thoroughly enjoy the film.

Those of us who are not talented filmmakers will continue to make points our way focussing not only on the banality of what these guys do inside the Grove but also the effect of their policies and decisions when they go back into the outside world. Attempts at social change come in many forms. After all, as one of the characters in the film said "It's a perpetual struggle".

Mary Moore, Bohemian Grove Action Network
P.O. BOX 296, OCCIDENTAL, CA.95465
707 874 2248

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