Al Carbone is an old-school restaurateur in the midst of a rapidly-changing world increasingly dominated by cookie-cutter chain outfits.

The Kit Kat, on Toronto’s King Street, couldn’t be more different. Most days Al can be seen greeting each and every customer on their way in – seating the women, hanging up jackets and subtly pushing the special of the day – “Try the pasta. You’ll like it.” He seems to know everyone’s name and is genuinely interested in how your day is going. He has a way of making you feel special.

Al has many regulars (some of whom refer to him as “the King of King Street”) and some of his staff have been working for him for three decades. He’s a reminder that loyalty is a valuable asset in a rapidly changing world.

FYI, we paid for all our meals ☺

– Toronto director Lionel Goddard

Toronto’s Chief Planner Jennifer Keesmaat is not only a smart cookie, she’s a tough cookie. The first day we filmed with her for The Condo Game, a biting wind and cold winter rain were driving down Yonge Street.

Given that she was on camera, she likely wasn’t as bundled up as she ordinarily would be, but Keesmaat spent an hour filming with us, and unlike the crew (I speak for myself), did not complain once about the penetrating chill blowing in off Lake Ontario. She had given us this time and she was going to honour every minute of it.

In 1999 when I was a reporter for the CBC, I did a profile on a young BC MLA named Christy Clark, who was making waves in the Legislature. I was certain she would one day lead the province. I get the same vibe with Jennifer Keesmaat – smart, savvy, attractive and Hamilton-tough. You heard it first here.

– Toronto director Lionel Goddard

Co-director Helen Slinger adds: Well, maybe not very first. Keesmaat’s star couldn’t be rising much faster…but Lionel’s instincts are often on the money.

One of the biggest challenges we had producing The Condo Game was finding condo owners willing to share their stories on camera. We had access to experts with literally thousands of condo owners on file, owners who had problems with their units. People were happy to spend hours on the phone, talking about issues with their condos, but speak on camera and risk falling property value….not so much.

Here’s our Toronto director Lionel Goddard: “Over the years I have had some big access challenges. The last doc I did for CBC was Cannabiz and I can honestly say it was easier to get people to talk openly about their illegal grow-ops than it was to get people to show us their crappy condo. There are a lot of smart, articulate condo owners in Toronto afraid to speak out – concerned their words will erode property values and inflame other residents. Fear is as much a part of the condo landscape as glass. On this documentary, Yvette Brend (researcher extraordinaire) and I spoke to dozens of frustrated condo peeps and reached out to countless others through social media. Most calls and emails ended with a version of: ‘So glad someone is finally doing a doc on this but I can’t talk about this right now. So sorry.’

Researcher extraordinaire, Yvette Brend: “It’s tougher to get people to talk about their condo troubles than it is to get people to speak out about gang activity. Once a person has bought into a building with issues, they want it kept quiet, or how will they ever sell? Some sue the developer, but that leaves a building with a shadow over it. Most high-level condo lawyers discourage lawsuits. They work hard to settle or mediate because it just isn’t worth it for condo owners who take on developers with deep pockets.”

Of course Yvette did find some brave souls willing to go on camera and you meet them in the doc.

The Condo Game –  CBC Doc Zone, Thursday Nov 21 @ 9pm

Watch the trailer http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8selboCYDBU&feature=youtu.be

We’re always looking for great characters who can make a story come alive and who aren’t afraid to speak their minds. When the subject is as close to home – ha ha – as problems with condos, most people want to keep their heads down. Not David Fleming! A realtor turned condo-consumer activist after he got burned himself a few years ago when he bought a pre-construction condo, Fleming is not afraid to bite the hand that feeds him.

Fleming hasn’t endeared himself to developers in Toronto with his popular blog http://www.torontorealtyblog.com/. He’s as candid and colloquial in print as he is in person – a straight shooter who is not afraid to call it as he sees it. He’s not afraid to point the finger at developers, other realtors, city hall, and even consumers who buy into the condo hype without doing their homework. He’s inflammatory but fair.

Fleming is one of the outspoken voices in The Condo Game, premiering on CBC Doc Zone Thursday November 21 @ 9 pm. After we interviewed Fleming, we filmed his spiel on why you shouldn’t buy a condo before it’s built – no matter how good it looks in the developer’s brochure! http://www.cbc.ca/player/Shows/Shows/Doc+Zone/Extras/ID/2410895931/

– Lionel Goddard & Helen Slinger, The Condo Game directors

Condo living is generally marketed as being a cool and carefree way to live. And I confess that when I’m outside raking leaves at this time of year with my fingers freezing off and movies I want to see and a dog that wants to go for a run – I dream of turning the key on the door to a downtown condo and heading out to do any one of those things, except raking leaves.

There’s a real likelihood that I will move into a condo at some point but, after spending a year looking into condo life, I’ll approach that move much more carefully than I would have when I was raking leaves last October.

Here’s some of what can go wrong.

http://www.cbc.ca/doczone/features/condo-minium-what-can-go-wrong

– Helen Slinger