There is a lot of conversation about what is happening to movies today -- the state they're in, the flagging interest of the public, the reliance on opening weekend receipts for success.
Here are two articles, one that address the current state of independent movies and the other on how to perhaps change the atmosphere on how movies are being made.
A good conversation starter, anyway:
This is from The Wrap:
http://www.thewrap.com/blog-entry/18-ways-reach-sustainable-truly-free-film-community_7327
This is from Ann Thompson's blog, Thompson On Hollywood:
http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/2009/09/19/toronto_film_festival_winners_and_losers/
-- LT