I suspect that the changing role of the producer may have had something to do with it as well. The producer, as I see it now, simply funds the operation and gets all the housekeeping issues out of the way so that the director et al can get on with their specific tasks. Whereas before (again, as I perceive it), producers were more hands-on and served as bouncing walls for the director and his ideas. Like Gary Kurtz - we really have him to thank for ESB, I believe.
I suspect that the changing role of the producer may have had something to do with it as well. The producer, as I see it now, simply funds the operation and gets all the housekeeping issues out of the way so that the director et al can get on with their specific tasks. Whereas before (again, as I perceive it), producers were more hands-on and served as bouncing walls for the director and his ideas. Like Gary Kurtz - we really have him to thank for ESB, I believe.