Our (nation's) cultural strength has always been derived from our diversity of understanding and experience.

When we enlarge our view of the world, we deepen our understanding of our own lives. The Silk Road project hopes to plant the seed of new cultural growth and to celebrate traditions and musical voices everywhere. The Silk Road is far more than a historic trading route that connected the people and traditions of Asia with Europe.

One of the most interesting aspects of the film project was collaborating with so many people - directors, filmmakers, and writers - over a five-year period. I learned that there are two components to this.

Many of the Central Asians know Russian, and Ted Levin speaks it fluently. I speak Chinese, but Mongolian is completely different, so we had to have translators.

Sound is ephemeral, fleeting, but some sort of a physical manifestation can help you hold on to it longer in time. I'm sure of this; I've always thought the sound that you make is just the tip of the iceberg, like the person that you see physically is just the tip of the iceberg as well.

Good things happen when you meet strangers.