A TEAM of aspiring filmmakers have set out to address the pressures of 'living the dream' as a young adult in today's world by producing their own film.

In just 25 days, the eight-strong team of university graduates shot on locations across Yarm, Teesdale and Darlington with a micro budget to create the feature-length piece.

'The King of Spades' is the brainchild of film graduate Matthew Fearney, 22, from Darlington, who, with friends Amy Cornforth, from Yarm, and Sarah Dunn, from Newcastle, gave himself one year post-university to pursue his writing and directing dream.

The drama explores friendship, frustration and the pressures of being a young adult in the modern world as it follows secondary school best friends Aaron and John.

While Aaron leaves school, completes his degree and finds a well-paid office job with a nice London apartment, John drops out of his university course, moves home with his dad and grows violent and impulsive while struggling with unemployment.

The film follows Aaron as he returns to his hometown, reunites with John and tries to help his friend.

Mr Fearney said the film targets a 'sticking point' experienced by many in their early twenties.

He said: "A lot of it was about exploring that age when you finish education but haven’t started to make your own way in the world.

"I think it’s an age where people can really struggle finding a path when they leave the nest, or they stay in the nest and begin down a path, but compare themselves to others on social media who look like they are living a better life.

"That is something quite unique to today's generation and a very common issue."

The team are now searching for post-production funds for editing suites where they can turn The King of Spades into a finished piece to distribute at film festivals.

Mr Fearney added: "I suppose we have been living our dream to an extent.

"With this kind of project you have full creative control but are limited by the budget.

"We worked with a real skeleton crew who have done a fantastic effort in taking up roles which, in a full scale film, would have been done by multiple people."