Scott Squires:

Actually it is. Obviously studios wouldn't award projects in the past to companies that were just starting up or which there were indications they would fail from the get go.

The risk of making a film has always been there. This is not new. This hasn't changed. Scott, DP's would use the same Panavision camera and lenes to minimize the risk[This pactice was hated buy the studios]. They would do weeks a camera tests to make sure the colors and lenes would work with the talent the director/studio had choosen. Directors would use the same DP's for all their films. Reducing risk. They use the same gaffers and key grips. Why, to reduce risk.

Making a movie is always a risk. Risk in movie making is not new. What's new visual effects. The challenges have changed but the risk has stayed the same.