Flash drop down menus

I am creating a site that has flash drop down menus which sit in the first row of a table. In the second row is alarge graphic banner - the banner is different for each of the eight sections of the site.

I could put the banner into my menus and create 8 different flash files for the menus but that's clearly not the way to do it. As I see it, I have two choices:

1. Find a way to easily make the menus drop "over" the graphic. I have played with the wmode="transparent" parameter but I can't seem to get it to work.

2. Combine the menus and graphic banner (which would allow me to make the banner look better with a touch of animation). I'd then have 8 files and 8 versions of the menus. Can I embed the one flash menu file into 8 different flash animations so that it only loads once for the user. Also, changes only have to be made to one file.

I would appreciate your feedback.

Thanks,
Sam