For this year's Top Directors' feature in the May issue of Boards, we asked the eight top spot helmers to answer a series of rather personal and left-field questions. What we got back were thoughtful, funny and enlightening. But one stood out with its openness, humor and great storytelling that we were hard-pressed to cut down: Rattling Stick founder Danny Kleinman. Here's his full Q&A for your reading pleasure. 

What's one thing that has happened in your life that has made the biggest impact on who you are today?

The most life changing event for me has been the loss of my parents. Being an orphan even as an adult makes one feel cast adrift in the world. For a while it was difficult to find a point in what I was doing with no one to say "well done" and be proud of me. I realized that having the approval of my parents for my work, seeing them take joy in my successes was a strong motivation, juvenile as that seems. So I felt I had to focus on what I really want out of the job, and it's to create work I'm personally proud of and also, importantly, to enjoy the process. Becoming aware of one's own mortality certainly has an impact, but I hope in my case it's been in a positive way.

What is something that not a lot people know about you but you wish more people could know?

I was fantastically handsome as a youth, not a lot of people realize that, I mentioned to my wife that I used to be like Adonis, and she said, "Yes, and now you're like a doughnut."

If you were given the power to give everyone on earth the same trait regardless of whatever differences already exist between them, what trait would you choose and why?

I'd make everyone have a propensity for attacks of gout, a notoriously painful affliction that mostly manifests itself in the big toe. Contrary to popular belief it's not just a illness affecting Victorian colonels swigging brandy, it's mainly genetic and has to do with not processing protein well. I think if we all had it every now and again (like I do) each person would feel such deep empathy with everyone else when they saw someone hobbling in dire agony that it would create world sympathy, understanding and peace.

If you could be a super hero, what power would you like to have?

When I was a young teenager Dr. Strange was my favorite super hero, he was a magician and saved the world by conjuring tricks, sort of. Now I don't really like the idea of super powers or super heroes although at certain times being able to extend a particular part of your body to a great length like Mr. Fantastic might be useful on the occasions I can summon the energy. I suppose what I really feel is that your powers or talent or whatnot should come from working for them and not because you've been born lucky with a Kryptonite spoon in your mouth.

You're given $1 million and a sticky note. You have to donate the money anonymously, who would you give it to and what would you write to them on the note.

I feel deeply for the heads of industry, leaders of banks and hedge funds so I'd send them the money with a note saying, "I'm so sorry you've been having such a nasty time. Here, I hope this little helps in addition to all the money the public has given you already. Carry on gambling, don't worry we'll be there for you when you screw it up again."

You're given a blank check and told, "This is your budget, go nuts". Describe the commercial you'd make.

It would probably be a bad one. I don't like self indulgence in advertising, unless it's with wine and food at the end of the day. The whole point of directing and producing commercials is to try and create the best work with the funds available, and doing it the expensive way isn't always the best way. Of course sometimes the script is just too ambitious for the funds available, then I tend to say so, or no, but more often than not there is a way to do it with a bit of compromise on either side and a way to make it interesting and fresh. If I had unlimited funds I'd rather do something else with it.

If you were written about on the front page of a major newspaper, what would the headline say?

"Man bitten by policeman mistaken for a doughnut".

What's the one interview question you're tired of being asked?

"Have you any plans to do a movie?" I don't consider being an advertising director as just a way of becoming a movie director. Probably more people see what I do. On the whole it's more honest, at least the viewer knows it's a vehicle for making money. I like the commercial form, it has it's own cryptic problems and solutions, it's a working time scale that suits me, it constantly changes and there are new challenges, places to go, and things to try. I'm not saying I'd never consider a movie, actually I have a couple of times and it might be a great thing to do, but it's the inference that one is more important than the other. As it happens very few movie directors can make good ads, and I'd rather make a good ad than a bad film.

Name a creative person, outside of directing, whose career you admire, and why?

I've been listening to Blind Blake a lot recently. He recorded about 80 tracks and had a very successful career. Most of his music is amazingly accomplished rag time blues, his dexterity and lyrical content is great. There are no interviews with him, and only one photo. No-one knows his real name, where he came from, or where or when he died, but his work lives on.

You've switched from directing to the agency side. Which commercials director would be your go-to director to shoot your ideas?

Without doubt Ringan Ledwidge. He has great skill he applies to many different genres, which is the mark of a good commercial director. He goes flat out to create the best work, is inventive, has taste, a light touch and great eye for photography. Oh, and he's also a nice bloke to spend time with, so just about exactly who I'd want to shoot my spot (if I wasn't available of course).