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Gone to Ground

Inspired by a true story.

When an old ex RAF wartime pilot rescues an injured woman from a car accident. She says she's a sex worker and their cultures clash as he’s shocked by her feral in-your-face sexuality and she’s exasperated by his mannered irritating routines, but as she slowly recovers they learn to accept each other ..until her violent past returns to threaten both their lives.

  • Phil Peel
    Director
  • Phil Peel
    Writer
  • Melissa De Mol
    Producer
  • Phil Peel
    Producer
  • Derek Parsons
    Producer
  • Melissa De Mol
    Key Cast
    "Magda"
    Schemers, Dead Fred
  • Alan Breck
    Key Cast
    "Guy"
    Me Before You
  • Alastair Thompson Mills
    Key Cast
    "Justin"
    Schemers, The Wee Man
  • Project Type:
    Feature
  • Genres:
    Thriller
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 57 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    November 1, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    100,000 GBP
  • Country of Origin:
    United Kingdom
  • Country of Filming:
    United Kingdom
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Arri Alexa digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2.39∶1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
Director Biography - Phil Peel

Phil is an award winning writer, director, producer and DP. Previously a BBC TV director, then Course Leader BA Film Production at AUB, (the most popular film course in the UK) he’s produced, directed or shot over 50 shorts and his films have screened at festivals worldwide.

Feature in Postproduction
Gone to Ground - Thriller feature script. Thriller Longllst Screenwriters Goldmine 2017 awards.
Features in Development
Chasing Fame, “Comedy feature” - 30 min short version screened in Toronto 2016. Best Actress award at ReelheART & Mentors award
Recent completed films
Late Request - Short - Create50 Gold Award (short script) British Screenwriters Awards 2015, Nominated best short at Winchester Film festival, also Chelmsford, Cardiff and Toronto Reelheart Film Festivals
Chasing Fame 30 min short (2016) Best Actress award TRIFF
Four other short films currently out on the festival circuit (two awards)

Other Screenplays
Phoebe Langtry, “Period drama feature - true story about woman who built windmill in 1813” - Quarter finalist Screenwriting Goldmine 2014
Best Of Intentions, “World War II romantic action feature” - Best Script Award at TRIFF
Jack’s Back, “Supernatural suspense horror feature about the return of Jack the Ripper during a theatre performance” Qrt. finalist Screenwriting Goldmine 2013. Optioned 2014 and 2015
Three more feature scripts at synopsis and/or partly written.
First Time - short script - winning selection for lSF Impact 50 2016 ..completed 2017

2016 LSF Talent Campus - Mentor
2015 LSF Talent Campus
2013 EIFF Talent Lab
2007 MA in Screenwriting at Bournemouth University

Other
Currently freelancing, shooting music and live videos (recently The Script, Boyzone and Sigma) + filming other people’s films.
Phil also played a zombie (being machine gunned) in 28 Days Later (having co-ordinated the zombie extras)

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

The old man in Gone to Ground is based on my father, who flew a Lancaster bomber in the RAF in WWII and was shot down but survived. He was annoying and obsessive, but very moral. I wrote this script immediately after he died to honour and remember him.

Alan Breck who played the character of Guy, was born in Leith, but sadly died shortly after filming. Despite the lockdown of Covid, he was passionate to finish what was to be his last role.