JulieHera DeStefano's mission to tell the stories of servicewomen has taken her all over the United States, as well as overseas.
DeStefano, 41, of Gibsonia, is producing and directing a documentary called “Journey to Normal: Women of War Come Home,” about the challenges female soldiers face upon returning home from serving in Afghanistan.
DeStefano spent 3½ months in late 2010 and early 2011 touring Afghanistan, interviewing 100 female veterans as they prepared for the end of their deployments. She followed up with several upon their return home to ask one main question — “What do you want us to know?” — to shed light on the social, emotional and psychological challenges they face.
DeStefano is a Carnegie Mellon University School of Drama graduate who splits her time between Gibsonia and New York. She has served as the managing director and producer of an award-winning, off-Broadway theater company and as the business manager of a New York-based film and photography studio. Earlier in her career, she performed extensively in Pittsburgh, working with Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera, Pittsburgh Playhouse and Gargaro Productions. Her acting credits include the films “The Preacher's Wife” and “The First Wives Club.”
She now works from the home of her mother, Jocqueline DeStefano, who died in September at 79. DeStefano believes her mother is helping guide the project.
DeStefano and her team intend to introduce “Journey to Normal” at fall film festivals and then get it into theaters nationwide.
The star who would play me in the movie version of my life:
A cross between Felicity Huffman and Jennifer Lawrence (and I'm between them agewise). I like the fact that they are not afraid to tackle the unexpected role.
Childhood hero:
My mom, without a doubt. Loving, funny, compassionate, supportive and vibrant. I miss her every day.
The piece of memorabilia from my childhood I wish I still had:
My dolls. Mom used to buy me these handmade fabric dolls. I had a bed full of them.
The superpower I wish I had in real life:
The ability to see into the future, not enough to ruin life's surprises, but enough to keep me from worrying so much about everything.
My favorite reality show:
“Top Chef.” But I admit, it was hard to pick just one!
Pick one:
A. Pirates
B. Penguins
C. Steelers
D. Other
E. I hate sports
Steelers!! I'm a huge (and vocal) fan. I was in Afghanistan for their last Super Bowl appearance and woke up at 2 a.m. to watch.
My favorite Pittsburgh athlete:
Troy Polamalu — great player and equally impressive human being
Favorite guilty pleasure:
A nap!!
Favorite lunchtime spot:
Panera — the “Journey to Normal” office away from home
My most treasured fashion accessory:
My mom's butterfly necklace
Three people I'd love to have dinner with:
Tim Russert, Oprah and Al Roker
My most memorable fashion mistake:
Big hair. Oh, to be a child of the ‘80s in the ‘Burgh.
I'm deathly afraid of:
Earthquakes. There is no way to prepare!
The first band I saw in concert:
Foreigner in Pittsburgh. I won tickets on B-94. As a kid, I loved to try to win things on the radio.
Best new gadget I've tried recently:
I just gave up my trusty Blackberry for the Galaxy Note II. It is HUGE, but I can type lengthy emails on it. It has so many functions, I'm convinced it might actually be able to drive the car.
My favorite website:
If I could live my life as someone else, it would be:
I'm pretty happy just being me.
Something I would do over if I could:
Believe it or not, I would go back to Afghanistan in a heartbeat. It was a perspective most civilians do not have the opportunity to gain, and I am grateful for how the experience has changed my life.
My most embarrassing junk food:
Marshmallow Peeps. Best when they have been open for three days.
My favorite thing about Pittsburgh:
Every meeting begins with the question, “Where did you grow up?” and continues with the list of families and people you know in common. It's a progressive city that still maintains a strong sense of its own history.
My quirkiest inherited trait:
I'm superstitious!! I'm not as bad as my Irish grandma, but I'm close.
Exercise I hate most:
Running. At one point, I realized I would still get there if I walked.
TV marathon I could watch all day:
I watch far too much TV. Could be “Everybody Loves Raymond” for the humor, “Deadliest Catch” for the drama or “Scandal” for the … scandal.
Favorite Pittsburgh-area landmark:
For generations, our family has met “under the Kaufmann's clock” Downtown.
The worst advice I ever received:
My New York theatrical agents wanted me to drop “DeStefano” from my name. Can't be done. I'm proud of my family history and want to carry their legacy forward.
The movie that always makes me cry:
Based on our footage, I expect it will be “Journey to Normal.” But remember, we cry for inspirational reasons, too.
The last book I read:
“Proof of Heaven” by Eben Alexander. It helped me through the sudden loss of my mom.
My favorite cable channel:
Bravo
What you'll always find in my glove compartment:
A ton of fast-food napkins. Multipurpose — you never know when you will need them.
If I wasn't an actor/director, I'd be:
A meteorologist. I'm a Weather Channel fanatic! I have been known to stay up for days tracking storms.
The song that always gets me out on the dance floor:
If it has a good beat, I'm there!
Movie I could watch every time it appears on cable:
“A Christmas Story.” By now, I have almost the entire film memorized. Our family actually went to the museum in Ohio as a holiday treat a few years ago.
My first job:
Washing dishes at The Pines Tavern in Wexford.
My worst job:
I took a test to be a temp once. I still type with two fingers, so you can imagine how that went.
Life would be better without:
Calories. Seriously, it would be better without fear of what makes us different from one another. If people and cultures weren't threatened by their differences, we might have more appreciation for each other and less conflict among people and nations.
I never travel without my:
Lately, my film crew.
People would be surprised to know that I:
Never really feel like I know what I am doing. I have made a career out of throwing myself off the cliff every day and trying to fly. Other than getting on stage or in front of the camera, I have had to “learn on the job” for everything else I have ever done — including making this film.
