Having survived in various dangerous environments all my life I shouldn't be surprised by the cutthroat coldness of the movie business. This has been depicted accurately in movies like The Player and Swimming with Sharks.
People wonder sometimes why there are so many bad movies. I think the bottom line is the bottom line. The major studios are losing their power, which I think is a good thing. But still,bank-ability and earning potential are their only concerns. They could not give less of a fuck about the quality of the movies they produce, as long as they make money.
the way things are going now, the best possibility of getting quality films made is to do most of it yourself. The writer may seek out a director who is willing to be part of the project. Then you try to interest talent in the script. If you are lucky you find some established actors who are willing to work if your project ever gets "green lighted", (good to go) Then you pitch the almost completed project to independent producers.
This is more and more the way things get done. Especially quality indepent films that appeal to adult audiences. the studios are still making mostly crap that brings in the kids and teenagers. Sequels, prequels, comic books.
A great movie can be a trans-formative experience. I don't get that from giant metallic shape shifting monsters or teenagers trying to get laid.
Film-making is an art form, and it seems to me that you need artists to make it so.
Rant over. Sometime I just don't care about being funny.