Known for his screwball, fantasy flicks like Khun Krabi Phii Rabad (Sars War) and Asujaak (The Sperm), the eccentric writer/director revisits his childhood and delivers Anubarn Dek Khong, his latest movie about a kindergarten boy who has a crush on a high school girl.

How was it working with lots of kids?
It was exhausting and gave me lots of headaches. I needed to have a good night’s sleep before coming to work. But at the same time, I had fun working with them because they made me feel good all the time.

What was the naughtiest thing that you did when you were a kid?
I went through the jungle, looking for a place to set up my own military base. Then I used things like firecrackers and plastic bags filled with water as weapons to fight with my friends.

Did you have a childhood nickname?
Handsome! I was chatting with my friends while we were supposed to be getting ready to sing the national anthem, so the teacher called me “Hey, handsome, would you stop talking?” But too bad, I got to be “handsome” for only two days, then my friends got bored of teasing me.

If you could become a kid again for one day, what would you do?
I would give my mom a big hug because she is no longer here with me now.

If Bangkok were a kid, it’d be…
A 16-year-old who sneaks out to pubs.