IN the dynamic world of multimedia production, longevity is often a rare feat. Yet Phase Three Productions has not only endured but thrived over the past 40 years, cementing its position as an industry trailblazer in innovation and adaptation.

“Phase Three actually started as renting tapes,” said CEO Richard Delano Forbes Jr, reflecting on the company’s origins in an interview with the Jamaica Observer.

He recounted how his father, Richard Delano Forbes Sr, fuelled by a passion for electronics and an innate curiosity for technology, transitioned his hobby into a thriving business.

“My father saw it as the ‘third phase’ of his life,” Forbes Jr explained, “the first phase being a customs officer, the second phase being the birth of his child — me — and the third being his venture into business.”

In the nascent years of multimedia production, when technological barriers loomed large, Phase Three embraced innovation as a survival strategy. Forbes Jr recalled the challenges his father faced in acquiring equipment and funding, leading to a culture of ingenuity and invention within the company. He could not afford to buy everything so he started building. This resourcefulness laid the foundation for Phase Three’s reputation as a pioneer in the industry.

“A friend had shared with him a video camera at the time, which was new technology, and even though he couldn’t actually shoot a video camera, I think he liked the concept of the video camera,” Forbes Jr shared with a loud laugh.

With that first camera, Forbes Sr started a business of taping things off of TV at home with four friends and renting the cassettes, but that was short-lived. Phase three moved to taping weddings, birthday parties, and special occasions, which grew in popularity. Video cameras snowballed, with anniversary events moving from personal events to corporate events. But Phase Three’s breakthrough came with the realisation of the potential of multi-camera live production.

“Once he found that he could take three or four cameras and build a little system in a Hiace-type bus that a director would sit behind and switch cameras, that is really where he said, ‘Wow, I can move from something smaller to something with more stability,’ “ Forbes Jr revealed.

This innovation propelled Phase Three into high-profile projects, including collaborations with Jamaica Broadcasting Corporation (JBC), now known as Television Jamaica (TVJ), capturing historic events such as state visits and parliamentary sessions.

“My father was the one who said he could capture Reagan coming off the plane, and then within three or four hours, he would rush to set up at the King’s House when everyone basically said that was impossible,” said Forbes Jr.

He noted to the Business Observer that the majority of his father’s initial work stemmed from naivety, which ultimately proved beneficial, as he consistently took on challenges and managed to deliver on them. This resulted in the growth of the business, quickly establishing Phase Three Productions as a prominent figure in live production and broadcasting. It went into entertainment productions, such as Reggae Sun Splash, the precursor to Reggae Sumfest and Sting, a major show in the early 90s.

The company’s evolution continued through the decades, expanding into regional productions and venturing into international sports coverage, and it has now partnered with Concacaf for coverage.

However, Phase Three’s journey was not without challenges. A devastating fire engulfed its facility in 1999, and it had to rebuild its Red Hills facility in Kingston from scratch.

For Forbes Jr, the transition to a more active role within the company came when his father faced vision impairment. In an industry heavily reliant on visual elements, the responsibility naturally fell upon him to oversee operations. Having been immersed in the world of production from a young age, Forbes Jr had acquired comprehensive knowledge of the business. However, reflecting on his career path, he recalled moments of doubt about following in his parents’ footsteps.

“There were times when I questioned whether I truly wanted to pursue the same path as my parents,” he confessed.

Despite considering alternative careers, such as architecture or piloting, the weight of responsibility as the only child ultimately steered him towards the family business. Furthering his education in film production from 1997 to 2001, Forbes Jr made the transition to running a business in his 20s, navigating challenges, including age-based discrimination among older colleagues. However, Forbes Jr recognised the necessity of earning respect through diligence and dedication.

One pivotal moment in Phase Three’s history was the tragic loss of its facility to a fire in 1999. However, the company emerged from this setback stronger, rebuilding its Red Hills facility from scratch. Phase Three now boasts a fleet of 16 buses and trucks, with its headquarters located at Unit 35, 15 Hope Road, Winchester Business Centre, Kingston, for the past 13 years. Additionally, it operates two warehouses, one off Molynes and the other off Osborne Road. While the company employs 35 full-time staff, the majority of its workforce consists of contractors and subcontractors for larger production projects.

Today, the majority of Phase Three Productions prioritises listening to and meeting the demands of its clients, focusing on adding value through exceptional service rather than engaging in direct competition. However, Forbes Jr shared that Phase Three did stray slightly from its core business with the production of the Jamaican comedy television series
Clafy. Unfortunately, due to the barriers associated with getting a programme onto mainstream television, the project was discontinued. In response to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Phase Three pivoted to meet market demands, transforming its old office space into Studio 45, a YouTube studio for content creators in Red Hills, at a cost of $20 million for retrofitting. This initiative also accommodates companies seeking to host hybrid events or meetings.

Looking ahead, Phase Three is committed to substantial investments in event infrastructure and technological advancements, notably focusing on enhancing remote production capabilities. Forbes Jr elaborated on this strategy, explaining that for overseas productions, instead of deploying an entire production set-up with a large crew, they opt for cost-efficient remote production. This involves setting up a dedicated space in its office for integration, where only the cameras and cameramen are sent on location. The director, graphics team, and replay personnel operate from the office in Jamaica, transmitting signals to broadcast locations as needed. According to Forbes Jr, this investment aligns with the company’s commitment to innovation, citing its pioneering investment in 4K production in 2019 as an example.

“We did that because we were the first production company in 2012 to go HD,” he said, laughing.

As the industry continues its dynamic evolution, Phase Three stands ready to lead the charge, harnessing its ingenuity and adaptability to seize upon emerging challenges and opportunities, thereby shaping the future of multimedia production.