History isn't really about the past - settling old scores. It's about defining the present and who we are.

One of the things I really like about Ford's films is how there is always a focus on the way characters live, and not just the male heroes.

We're having a hard time understanding where jazz is going. What happened to jazz?

The genius of our country is improvisation, and jazz reflects that. It's our great contribution to the arts.

When you are editing, the final master is Aristotle and his poetics. You might have a terrific episode, but if people are falling out because there are just too many elements in it, you have to begin to get rid of things.

People tend to forget that the word "history" contains the word "story".

I think we too often make choices based on the safety of cynicism, and what we're lead to is a life not fully lived. Cynicism is fear, and it's worse than fear - it's an active disengagement.