BRW has ended negotiations with Italian unions over its redundancy packages for 21 staff.
In so doing, the Milanese production company is freed up to announce the details of its restructuring plans, thus quashing incessant rumours of its pending demise.
Giulio Romieri, the company president said: "Until you have reached an agreement with the unions, you are legally required to remain silent, even if other people have already spoken…. I have heard the strangest rumours and speculation about BRW."
Romieri has outlined his new strategy for the company as "same quality, lower costs." BRW has almost halved its workforce. It will shortly move offices to house its reduced staff of 30. It still has a large number of producers: Romieri himself, Emanuela Cavazzini, Federico Levizzani, Liza Fisher Foresi, Consuelo Mauri, Emanuele Musini, Rossana Mazzoleni, Luca Orlando and Allegra Corsetti. It also maintains its post-production manager, casting director and production manager, roles that Romieri says are key in maintaining quality.
Reliable sources had frequently tipped BRW as being on the point of closure over the past two months, a rumour whose flames were fanned by both the abrupt decision to cease funding Radiant Pictures, its German wing, and the departure of BRW managing director Federico Fasolino.
"Of course," Romieri explained, "we're coming out of this restructuring period with a lighter and more dynamic team. This change means lower costs for our clients. If I were to draw the profile of the new BRW, I would say that on the one hand we will maintain the experience and undisputed quality that the market has always credited us for and on the other, after the restructure, it will definitely be a lot easier for us to be more competitive cost-wise."
