'Potter' director speaks of his problems

Mike Newell has spoken of the problems he faced shooting the most recent Harry Potter film. In a weekend promotional interview with Reuters, he explained how he felt "angered by the lack of money...it really pissed me off."

However, the director praised executives at Warner Brothers for giving him "extraordinary" creative freedom, which he says allowed him to explore the darker side of the world of wizardry, something that less freedom would not have allowed.

The film has been rated a 12A, and thus has not been short on controversy. For instance, Newell gave the example of the effect-full opening scene set in the Quidditch World Cup which led to many arguments between the producers and the filmmakers. Luckily for Newell, he managed to argue for its inclusion, as he said "Potter fans would feel short-changed" without the scene.

Newell, who has previously directed both rom-coms such as Four Weddings and a Funeral and dark dramas like Donnie Brascoe, says he tried to make the film somewhat of a "fusion" between a child's film and an adult's film. He also told Reuters that he would like to make the final, as yet unnamed, film, although he may have to wait a good few years for that opportunity.

Daniel Radcliffe, who plays the eponymous hero, spoke to Reuters about the pressure he felt to improve in each film, saying that they would have to "go an extra mile" to top the third film.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire goes on general relase on the 18th November.