Robert Brinkmann (born November 20, 1961) is a German-born cinematographer and occasional director. He studied film production at the University of Southern California, where he eventually specialized in cinematography. After graduating, Brinkmann formed Cinescope Productions and started to produce and shoot music videos, commercials and documentaries. Cinescope also produced hundreds of low budget music videos, which launched the directing careers of many accomplished filmmakers, including Jay Roach, Lance Gentile, John Schwartzman, and Harris Done. Brinkmann's first credit as Director of Photography on a major studio feature film was for Universal Pictures' Shout (1991), starring John Travolta. He went on to shoot such films as Encino Man, The Beverly Hillbillies, The Truth About Cats and Dogs, The Cable Guy, The Rules of Attraction, and Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny.
