By Brian Larsen
Several months ago, we welcomed Rob Perez to the Cook County News-Herald staff. A half-time reporter, Rob has one or two, up to three articles in each edition of the paper. We hope all of you in the International Falls area enjoy Rob’s humorous take on the outdoors.
Below is an introduction to Rob.
In addition to a lot of talent and skill with a camera, Rob brings a lot of enthusiasm, energy, and creativity to the paper.
Rob comes to us from the Twin Cities, where he taught scriptwriting, hosted a podcast that ran 49 episodes on YouTube, and, among other things, helped his wife with her work at the Griffin Archer ad agency. He was also working on a biography of the late Senator Paul Wellston when the pandemic put the brakes on that project.
Originally from Houston, Texas, after high school, Rob moved to the east coast to attend Middlebury College. Upon graduating with a major in film studies, he immediately moved to LA to pursue a career as a scriptwriter. But after a dozen years, he had enough and made his way to the Twin Cities to gain a new perspective on life.
Life in LA had its highlights. Rob spent one year working for Ridley Scott, and he wrote for all of the movie companies (Disney, Universal, Paramount, Warner Bros, Columbia, etc.).
Two of his screenplays became movies, but other scripts weren’t accepted. “When that happens a dozen times, it breaks your heart a little bit,” he said.
He was also tired of people who felt entitled. One such incident he witnesses singled the end. A well-known person was at the front of the line at a coffee shop and was brutish to a barista trying to serve them. “That rudeness hurt me.”
On the advice of Josh Hartnett, a Minnesotan Rob got to know when Hartnett starred in 40 days and 40 nights, a script Rob wrote, he moved to the Twin Cities. That was 2008. He knew Minnesotans were different when shortly after arriving, he walked out of a grocery store and a couple was thanking a bag boy for helping them with their groceries. “He was a special needs kid. They took, what, five seconds out of their life to show they cared about him? I knew I was in the right place.”
When the pandemic hit, he, his wife and two children moved to shelter in place at her parent’s large house in Schroeder. At first, the couple wondered what their next move would be. They put Griffin in school at Birch Grove and were very impressed with the teachers and administration. They scouted around and found they loved the natural beauty of the area. A trail runner, Rob discovered trails to hike and run. And skiing at Lutsen Mountains has been a favorite winter activity. A former tennis instructor and recreational tennis player, Rob said he can’t wait to get to know the area’s tennis players.
So, a year later, Rob and his wife Ellie, children Poet (3) and Griffin (8), are feeling comfortable. In fact, Rob says, Cook County is starting to feel like home.
