bigger names + bigger pay = smaller budget?

[elady25]

> > Sassy Snape : 
> > > Does anybody else think the movies are becoming more of a bigger-
> > > acting-names-must-be-seen-to-be-cool sort of thing. 

> > Mandy here:
>
> >  You don't have to worry about the budget, GoF is going to be the 
> > most expensive movie ever made.  It has a budget of 350 million or 
> > something crazy.  And Warner Bros can afford it, with both PS/SS 
> and 
> > CoS grossing over a billion each worldwide, and PoA well on it's 
> way 
> > down the same road.  The Potter franchise is a cash cow and will 
> > continue to be one unless there is a flop.
> > 
> > Warner Bros., can afford to and are willing to pay whatever they 
> want 
> > for their names actors.  What is interesting is British actors do 
> not 
> > expect, and are not paid the same astronomical amounts as their 
> > American counter parts, choosing to work for critical acclaim 
> rather 
> > than money.  And we know that there are no diva antics going on in 
> > these films, which is more typical of American 'stars', as the 
> > British stars appear to be happy to work in the smallest of roles 
> > with very little airtime.  You can bet that if an American 'star' 
> was 
> > involved, they'd be demanding their role be increased to reflect 
> > their 'star' status, I not saying the Americans are ungrateful, it 
> is 
> > just acceptable behavior in Hollywood.  
> > 
> > So while we don't know if the names are being paid astronomical 
> > amounts (and they might be) we do know they are all very excited to 
> > be involved in the saga.  They know they're part of history in the 
> > making. The HP films are true ensemble pictures, which is rear 
> these 
> > days. There has never been a project with such a large ensemble of 
> > well-respected and talented British thespians.  It has to be JKR's 
> > dream cast!
> 
> 
> Sassy here: I just worry that the financial end is causing a slight 
> disloyalty to the production 

imamommy chiming in:

Could we at least get a director who has read the books and is a big
fan prior to being contacted to direct a film?  I for one don't think
that either director has quite gotten it right (albeit Cuaron had a
better grip than Columbus)?