Brandon Schantz
Brandon Scott Schantz (July 26, 1980 - December 6, 2007) was a broadcaster, sports director and television producer. He was, perhaps, best known as an on-camera host for Movies.com and for producing music videos for the rock band Rooney.[1] Schantz had previously become the youngest local news station sports director in the history of the CBS network and its affiliates.[2]
Biography[edit]
Early life[edit]
Schantz was a native of San Francisco and graduated from San Ramon Valley High School in the East Bay neighborhood of Danville, California.[2]
Schantz graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a bachelor's degree in broadcast journalism in 2002. He worked as a production intern with KEYE-TV, an Austin, Texas, CBS affiliate from 2000 until 2002 while attending the University of Texas. Additionally, Schantz also interned within the sports department at KXAN as an undergraduate.[1]
Career[edit]
Schantz was hired as the Sports Director at KGWN-TV, a CBS affiliate in Cheyenne, Wyoming, upon his graduation from college.[1] In doing so, Schantz, who was 22 years old when he was hired by KGWN, became the youngest local news station sports director in the history of the CBS network.[2] He also appeared on camera at KGWN as a sports reporter and Sportscaster.
Schantz departed KGWN in the mid-2000s and moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career as a producer and television host. He established a production company at the age of 25, Brandon Schantz Productions and established a production headquarters with partners Kevin Dobski at Santa Monica Studios in Santa Monica, CA. Collectively Schantz produced projects, music videos and live television events during 2006 and 2007, including a music video for the Rooney single, "I Should've Been After You", a Southern California based rock band.[1] Brandon Schantz Productions (BSP) specialized in music videos, television, and short form digital web content.[2]
Schantz was also hired as an on-camera host and producer for Movies.com, which was acquired by the Walt Disney Company.[1]
Death[edit]
Schantz was diagnosed with lymphoma in the Spring of 2007, and underwent surgery for the disease in October 2007.[1] He continued to work on his production company and Movies.com while undergoing treatment.[1] During this time, he made a brief appearance in the seventh episode of The Real World: Hollywood, which was filmed in 2007, and aired June 25, 2008.[2] Schantz, who was working as a host and producer for Movies.com at the time, gave internships to three Real World cast members, Kimberly Alexander, Nick Brown and Sarah Ralston, who sought to become on-air hosts. Schantz died on December 6, 2007, at the age of 27.[1][2] His death, and Brown's reaction to it, was chronicled on-camera.[1][3][4] He was survived by his parents, Sean and Kim Schantz, his siblings, Ryan and Kaylee, and his grandparents.
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Hollaway, Diane (2008-06-23). "Farewell to UT grad on MTV's 'Real World'". Austin American-Statesman. Retrieved 2008-07-09.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Brandon Schantz Memorial Endowment Fund". University of Texas College of Communication. Archived from the original on April 18, 2009. Retrieved 2008-07-09.
- ^ Summary page for The Real World: Hollywood, Episode 11 ("Making It") at mtv.com
- ^ Video of The Real World: Hollywood, Episode 11 at mtv.com