I don't disagree. To me, the biggest problem in both small films and large films is a lack of script development.
I don't know how many films I have seen (and I have see many independant films in my job) that were very low budget, had no cast BUT could have been better if the script didn't suck.
Interestingly, I think both high and low budget producers seem to suffer from the rush to get into production. Some high concept, high budget films don't even have a complete script when they go into production. They piece it together as they go along.
Usually, it has more to do with scheduling and financing than anything.
- Pitt is free to shoot between these dates. If you don't shoot then you have to wait until 2007.
- Fox will give us the money to shoot now but we have to open on Memorial Day weekend
Sometimes the studios don't care. They know what kind of profit they will get back if they put a big star in the film. Even if it barely breaks even at the box-office they can still turn a profit in the ancillary markets. In this case, they are looking a lines on a spreadsheet and it has little to do with creativity.