Gustavo Rosso is someone who dreams big, and he works hard to make those dreams come true. He spent the first quarter of his life in Argentina, where he worked as a television producer and cameraman. As an avid fan of Formula One auto racing, Rosso always wanted to do interviews for the sport. But he didn’t speak English, and that kept him from achieving his goal.
Instead of letting his dream die, Rosso took the advice of his sister and brother-in-law to move near them in Minnesota. He started learning English while also taking classes in photography and video production at Century College in White Bear Lake. Rosso wowed his professors by using his leadership skills to successfully head up production teams, even though his English was still developing.
Today Rosso works as a video producer and production manager at Minnesota Experience Television, a cable show that explores local culture. For Rosso, the job is another dream come true. “In America you can get to your goal sooner or later,” he says. “In Argentina, sometimes your dreams are just dreams forever. You have to live with the reality.”
He’s gaining further experience in his medium, and one day he hopes to get on track with Formula One. Meanwhile, Rosso shares his camera skills with nonprofits and by creating training videos and ads for Latino-owned businesses seeking to attract customers from the larger American market. He also makes documentaries, including two that are on display at the Minnesota History Center.
Rosso feels fortunate that he has been able to live in the United States, so he gives back to organizations like the Girl Scouts, St. Paul Neighborhood Network, and Century College. “America is one of the best things that happened in my life,” he says. “I can have friends from all over the world, and you learn about people from different cultures, about religion, politics. I enjoy that a lot.”
