Mike Fisher of Burke recently won an award at the 15th annual Rosebud Film and Video Festival, which took place in Arlington. He was initially selected as one of 20 nominees selected from about 100 entries, and then was honored as one of the five selected as this year's winners.
His award-winning animation, "Far Away Eyes," featured a hard-working man of the future learning to take time to enjoy life. Fisher has been selected as this week's People Profile.
Number of years in the Burke Community: Seven years
Family: Margi Fisher is my fantastic wife. I have three kids, Joe, 12, the tall basketball player, Andrew, 10, the quiet baseball player and Faith, 6, the sensitive jabberbox.
Education: I have a bachelor's degree from the University of South Carolina.
Current Job/Primary Occupation: Currently, I am a freelance graphic artist/cartoonist/animator, creating work in my home studio.
Achievements: Besides having created an A+ family with my wife, I have had a modestly successful independent animated-short career. My animations have won several awards across the country at film festivals in such places as Crested Butte, Colo.; Marin County, Calif.; Philadelphia; and Delaware Valley, N.Y. One of my animations, "Far Away Eyes," is a nominee in the local 2005 Rosebud film festival. I also create cartoons for several magazines. Some of my work can be seen at www.goofaman.com.
Activities/Interests/Hobbies: My interests are pretty much the same as my profession: graphics and animation. In particular, I like science fiction, comic books, pretty much any movie where the phrase "We are from outer space" is used, nanotechnology, robots.
Favorite Local Restaurant or place in Burke: The Austin Grill (Joe Ely After-the-Show Combo Platter and tea!)
What are your community concerns? What are some ideas you have on ways to improve your community? Overcrowding is a problem here, especially on the roads. Steps should be taken to limit the number of people and cars in the area.
What community "hidden treasure" do you think more people should know about? Burke Lake Park — They added a miniature golf course not too long ago, and it's always fun to play a round of disc golf there.
Who has inspired you and why? My parents have certainly inspired me the most. Now that I am an adult, I realize everything they have done for me and appreciate it even more.
Goals: I hope to become the best animator and cartoonist that I can become, reaching as many people as possible.
Know someone who should be spotlighted for his or her contribution to the community or for his or her accomplishments? Send People Profile nominations to burke@connectionnewspapers.com or for more, call Nina M. Dry at 703-917-6422.