Jaime Gomez
Michel; Andreas; Reyji
Leader, Buddhafield · born c.1941 · active c.1985–present
The son of a wealthy Venezuelan rancher, who came to Hollywood seeking stardom, had a non-speaking part in Rosemary's Baby and reportedly danced with the Oakland Ballet. He led a Los Angeles meditation group of about 100 people who were forbidden alcohol, drugs, television, outside relationships and children. Will Allen and other former members say he manipulated male followers into sex with him for years. The group is uniquely well documented because its official videographer, Will Allen, filmed it continuously for 22 years and used the footage to make Holy Hell after leaving.
Before the law. NEVER CHARGED WITH ANYTHING, ANYWHERE. Despite allegations of decades of sexual coercion and of tax evasion, no criminal proceeding has ever been brought against him.
Where things stand. Living, as of the most recent reporting (2024), and still leading the Buddhafield group in HAWAII at a low profile — reportedly teaching yoga at LANIKAI BEACH, with the group recruiting through yoga sessions and studios and maintaining an online presence. Born in VENEZUELA, he went to Hollywood as an aspiring actor before forming the group in the 1980s, and has been known successively as MICHEL, ANDREAS, THE TEACHER and REYJI. HE HAS NEVER BEEN CRIMINALLY CHARGED, despite allegations of sexual assault and tax fraud. A NOTE ON SOURCES: most accessible recent writing about him is entertainment coverage generated by a streaming documentary series rather than reporting, and this file treats its detail accordingly.
- c.1985 Group forms in West Hollywood.
- 1992 The group moves to Austin, Texas.
- 2000s The group fractures over the allegations; Will Allen leaves in 2007. He moves to Oahu, Hawaii, with the remaining followers, later as 'Reyji'.
- 25 JANUARY 2016 Holy Hell premieres at Sundance. He dismisses it as a work of fiction designed to create drama, fear and persecution.
Checked 2026-09-17 · living: health details are kept at home
Will Allen
—
Buddhafield defector and documentarian · born c.1960 · active 1985–2007
The group's official videographer for 22 years, who filmed almost everything Buddhafield did — meetings, rituals, private moments, the leader's instructions. When the group fractured in 2006 over Jaime Gomez's sexual coercion of male members, Allen left with the footage and spent years turning it into HOLY HELL (2016). It is the most complete visual record of daily life inside a cult ever assembled, and it is unusual for showing the genuine joy of the early years — which is the part that explains why people stayed.
Before the law. Never charged.
Where things stand. Living — no death record found; nothing consulted reports on his projects since the film’s release period. He joined the Los Angeles-area group in 1985 as a recent film-school graduate and served as ITS OFFICIAL VIDEOGRAPHER FOR TWENTY-TWO YEARS, filming almost everything it did. He assembled HOLY HELL from that footage over four years after leaving; it PREMIERED AT SUNDANCE IN JANUARY 2016 and was released on 27 MAY 2016. The group’s own archive, shot by a believer, became the evidence against it.
- 1985 Joins Buddhafield; becomes its videographer.
- 1985–2006 Films the group continuously for 22 years.
- 2006 The group fractures; he leaves with the archive.
- 2016 Holy Hell premieres at the Sundance Film Festival.
Checked 2026-08-24 · living: health details are kept at home