Robert Richardson (cinematographer)

Infobox actor
name = Robert Richardson


imagesize = 150px
caption =
birthname =
birthdate = birth date and age|1955|8|27
birthplace = Hyannis, Massachusetts
occupation = Cinematographer
yearsactive = 1982 - present
spouse =
domesticpartner =
children =
academyawards = Best Cinematography
1991 "JFK"
2004 "The Aviator"

Robert Bridge Richardson (born August 27, 1955 in Hyannis, Massachusetts) is an American cinematographer. He has won the Academy Award for Best Cinematography twice, for his work on "JFK" and "The Aviator". According to rumor, Quentin Tarantino persuaded him to work on "Kill Bill" by sending him a Valentine's Day bouquet.Fact|date=April 2007 Richardson graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design with a BFA in Film/Animation/Video and received his MFA from American Film Institute. He is divorced with three children, named Kanchan, Maya and BB. His matriarchal family currently runs the Cape Cod Sea Camps situated on the Cape Cod Bay.

Career History

Before earning the Best Cinematography Academy Award for work on Stone's "JFK", Robert Richardson worked as a camera operator and 2nd unit photographer on such features as Alex Cox's "Repo Man", Dorian Walker's "Making the Grade" and Wes Craven's "A Nightmare on Elm Street" (all in 1984). He also served as cinematographer on TV documentaries and docudramas such as "America, America" for The Disney Channel, "God's Peace" for the BBC and PBS' "The Front Line: El Salvador". His work in El Salvador led to his meeting Oliver Stone, who hired him to "shoot" "Salvador" (1986).

Oliver Stone's major motion picture debut was also Richardson's fisrt film as director of photography. "Salvador" was also filmed the same year as Stone's "Platoon". "Platoon" would earn Richardson his first Oscar nomination for Best Cinematography. In 1987 Richardson reteamed with Stone on "Wall Street". In 1988 he filmed "Eight Men Out" for John Sayles. In 1989 earned his second Best Cinematography Oscar nomination for Stone's "Born on the Fourth of July".

Martin Scorsese called on Richardson when he was preparing to direct "Casino" (1995). 1991 gave Richardson his Best Cinematography Academy Award for work on Stone's "JFK"; he also shot Stone's "The Doors" that same year. He worked with Sayles agian in 1991 for "City of Hope". In 1992 he worked as director of photography on Rob Reiner's "A Few Good Men" and served as a 2nd unit photographer for Haskell Wexler on "To the Moon, Alice", a "Showtime 30-Minute Movie" (for which he was also credited as visual consultant). He began a long working relationship with Martin Scorsese in 1995, beginning with "Casino". In 1995 he was cinematographer on Stone's "Nixon" (film). In 1997 Richardson produced Errol Morris's documentary "Fast, Cheap & Out of Control" as well as filming the majority of Stone's "U Turn" and serving as director of photography for Barry Levinson's "Wag the Dog".

Filmography as Cinematographer

External links

*
*tcmdb name | id=161397|name=Robert Richardson
* [http://www.theasc.com/magazine/jan05/aviator/page1.html American Cinematographer Magazine, interview with Robert Richardson] about "The Aviator"