Ambition Lab: Newcastle Documentary Filmmaker’s Exploration of Youth Empowerment & Motivation

In 2013, Newcastle documentary filmmaker Alan Fentiman collaborated with Newcastle-based charity The Key to create Ambition Lab—a creative documentary that delves into one of life’s most fundamental questions: What do I want to be when I grow up?

But Ambition Lab is not just about job titles. Instead, it explores the deeper story of how young people discover passion, purpose, and a path in life that feels truly meaningful. At its heart, the film investigates how intrinsic motivation—the drive that comes from within—can be the most powerful force shaping young people’s futures.

Throughout the film, young people speak candidly about their hopes, dreams, and uncertainties:

“I want to become a psychiatrist in the future.”
“I want to be a film director.”
“I don’t know… because I don’t think I’ll ever grow up.”

Their words reveal a powerful truth: young people are brimming with ideas, ambition, and passion—but they often need the right environment to help those qualities flourish.

Ambition Lab draws on Self-Determination Theory, a psychological framework proposing that for people to thrive, three basic psychological needs must be met:
• Autonomy: feeling in control of your own life and choices.
• Relatedness: feeling connected and valued by others.
• Competence: feeling capable and skilled in what you do.

These concepts resonate deeply with Alan as a Newcastle documentary filmmaker working in Newcastle film production. Through decades of experience, Alan has learned that capturing real, authentic stories isn’t just about filming people—it’s about building trust, allowing subjects to speak honestly, and reflecting the communities they come from.

The film also shares the stories of professionals and creatives whose own careers have zigzagged across unexpected paths:

“I’ve zigzagged all over the place. I’m just about to start my fifth career in the House of Lords.”

Rather than following a strict career ladder, many people achieve success through exploration, experimentation, and discovering what makes them feel alive. It’s an idea central to both Alan’s personal journey and his approach to creative documentary filmmaking.

For Alan, Ambition Lab marked a significant milestone in his career. It was the first time he shifted from thinking of himself simply as a videographer to fully embracing the role of a filmmaker. The project illuminated how storytelling can go beyond documentation to become a force for understanding and change. It set the tone for the type of authentic, human-centred work he continues to pursue in Newcastle film production.

The film also reveals that young people are not the problem—they’re the solution. The challenge lies not in motivating them, but in creating environments where their natural drive and creativity can shine. As one interviewee in the film puts it:

“Young people aren’t the problem—they are the solution.”

Ultimately, Ambition Lab challenges traditional ideas of success. For many featured in the film, true success is not defined by wealth or status but by happiness, fulfilment, and the freedom to pursue what you love:

“Success is achieving what you feel is personally fulfilling for you… Possibly the question can be answered by saying, ‘So am I happy?’”

This philosophy underpins all of Alan’s work as a Newcastle documentary filmmaker, where storytelling is a tool for connection and transformation.

If you’re passionate about youth empowerment, creative storytelling, or discovering how real people navigate life’s big questions, Ambition Lab offers both inspiration and insight.

⸻

▶️ Watch More

🎥 Explore more of Alan’s documentary films about young people: https://alanfentiman.co.uk/vimeo-vide...

✨ Discover how The Key is helping young people design their own futures: https://www.thekeyuk.org/

⸻

✅ Connect With Alan

→ Website: https://alanfentiman.co.uk
→ Instagram: @alanfentiman
→ Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/alanfentiman