Radke Films director Philip Kates says his appreciation for art films and wry sense of humor mark his work, and appropriately, he lists his main influences as ’40s film noir director Jacques Tourneur and Mad magazine. Kates’ Pizza Pops spots for Leo Burnett were shortlisted at Cannes, sparking u.s. interest in the Toronto-born director.

What has been the high point of your directorial career so far?

Getting to put Prime Minister Jean Chretien in a choke hold on his front lawn, and I have the photos to prove it!

What has been the low point?

When I was a Ryerson film student observing a commercial shoot and got booted off the set by the director.

What is your favorite TV commercial of all time (not your own)?

A toss-up between Gerard de Thame’s ‘Sadist/Masochist’ campaign for Tennants Lager and the Oliver’s Jewellers ad where he turns into Superman (Oh Yeah!).

Favorite TV jingle?

‘Sleep Country Ca-na-da. Why buy a mattress anywhere else?’

What do you like best about working with American agencies?

Bags o’ money!

What do you like least?

Nothin’.

What advice would you give an up-and-coming director that you wish someone had told you?

There are no shortcuts.

If you had a theme song what would it be?

Theme from Shaft.

If you knew when you started off in the business what you know now, what would you do differently?

I’d have been a moron then too.

What’s next?

Continuing to do what I do here, working on great creative, expanding it to include more U.S. and international work, on to features, and then dessert!