I don't know if the problem is me.
It is. Trust me, it is. No, no. It really is.
I tried shooting a short earlier this year, that did not end up getting started. The DP told me that I was being too picky, and that I need to let the DP do the video and his/her way. But I thought the director does get some say in the sound and cinematography of the scenes. I don't think I was being picky as their were several details s/he left unchecked that should not have been when it comes to a DPs job. I just didn't want it to turn out poor. But maybe I need to allow some flexibility, which I am comfortable with, just so long as the person has attention to detail.
What you don't realize it the problem came from your decisions before you got to the point where you had the trouble. By then, you were already in a lose/lose situation.
If you're the person in charge and it doesn't work, you're the person to blame. Plain and simple. The bucks stops with the boss, plain and simple. Someone sabotaged the project, it's due to your choice to bring them on to the project. Someone else brought them on the project? You're still at fault for bringing that other person on and for letting the issue grow.
You're never going to be a real leader until you're at the point where you accept responsibility for your productions, the actions and the outcome of your cast and crew.
I will try working on my self development when it comes to attempting to do another casting and crew call, which I am doing right now in fact. Perhaps I need to write my adds differently too, but I don't think that is the main problem... That same DP also told me I need to work on being a better bulls$&t-er when it comes to selling myself as well.
First, self development isn't learning to accomplish a task. Any monkey can learn that. Ok, well, almost any. I'm talking about learning about people and yourself. What makes you tick, what motivates you. What's a real, true assessment of your self. What are your true goals. What makes you happy. How to attract luck. The power of positive thinking and all that jizz. How to learn what other people want and need and so on. Learn how to relate to others. Go get some pop psychology audio book. It may sound like a bad idea to you, but you'll be a lot wiser for the experience.
Second: Word of wisdom. NEVER EVER trust the word of someone who tells you that you need to bullshit better. It's like trusting your wallet with a drug abuser. I would have thought that was common sense.
Your solution is quite simple. Think of this saying, "If you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you've always got." Basically saying, if you continue doing what you've done for the last 3 years of filmmaking, you'll have the same success, results and problems 3 years from now. If you want to continue to being the same broke filmmaker who cannot get a cast and crew together, all the best to you.
Your first step is to make a decision. Make a decision. Yes, really that simple. Decide, do you want to succeed, or do you want to continue to make excuses and blame others for your failures.