If storytelling is the most important, than it's the cheapest problem to solve All you need is a computer, a screewriting program, and some paper to print it on. So if you got that, than that's solved. If you can come up with a good story of course.
The secret to great storytelling is that the end product is greater than the sum of its parts. If it isn't, then the storytelling failed somewhere. I believe a good story, with good actors, good sound, good music, good sfx, told well by a good director and put together by a good crew and organized by good production staff and marketed by good marketers will end up being better than a good movie.
Everyone has a great story idea in them. The problem is, a story idea isn't enough. Storytelling isn't script writing or a screenplay, though they do make up part of great storytelling. There is just more to it than a good script. Most independent filmmakers don't work enough on their script to begin. They don't trim enough fat, they waste the audiences time, they don't make (or know how to) make interesting enough characters and a protagonist that people can relate to or at least get behind. They often don't understand the need for a great antagonist. They often don't understand that conflict drives movies and tv. They often don't understand the importance of plot points. They often don't understand what is Act 1, Act 2 and Act 3 and their importance to each other and to the audience. And these are just the basics.
A great story gets the cast and crew together. Once you have them together, as a director, you need to begin the storytelling so the audience can feel your story. Good storytelling is about eliciting the correct emotion or reaction from the audience at the right time. Delivering an experience which makes your audience want to be your fan.
If you really want to learn about micro/no budget storytelling, go and watch a movie called 12 Angry Men. It's a black and white movie that has pretty much stood the test of time. You can shoot a story like that in 5 days (or less) with 1 primary location and 2 minor locations. Practice making the mundane interesting to the point where it can hold the attention of the audience and the entertainment world will be your oyster as the rest will come easy. Then go beg, borrow or steal a copy of 2 Day Film School by Dov S Simens. He won't teach you how to make a masterpiece, but he'll help you get the kick in the pants you need. Or better yet, go and see him live if he still does seminars.
You really need to make something that you can within your budget. While it's exciting to dream about making the next Star Wars, Avatar or Avengers clone films, the truth of the matter is you need to make something of quality within your budget and personal technological knowledge restraints and the pool of people you can recruit to help you. The last part makes it tough, as most of us cannot afford all the people (and equipment) power to make the stories that we dream of. It's part what makes independent film making so hard.