Butler's Cinema Scene

Giancarlo Esposito...his last moments on "Breaking Bad"

Kansas City visual effecs wiz Bruce Branit (of BranitFX) has been nomined for an award by the Visual Effects Society.

Branit and associates Werner Hahnlein, Gregory Nicotero and William Powloski got the nod for their work on the season finale of AMC’s “Breaking Bad.” They are nomninated in the Outstanding Supporting Visual Effects in a Broadcast Program category.

If you saw that episode – “Face Off” – you haven’t forgotten it.

Branit and gang worked on the shot where drug kingpin Gustavo “Gus” Fring (Giancarlo Esposito), targeted for assassination by bomb, walks away from the blast straightening his tie and apparently unharmed.

Then the camera moves from a side shot to a full-on shot and we realize that one half of  Gus’ face has been blown off.

He promptly collapses and dies.

Others shows nominated in same category include “Boardwalk Empire,” “Bones,” “Game of Thrones” and “Pan Am.”

In announcing this year’s nominees, VES chairman Jeffrey Okum said: “The standard of the creative work that is being considered this year is unbelievably high across all categories. The judges faced a huge challenge because all of the work was so far above the norm. We’re honored to hage the opportunity to focus the spotlight on the outstanding work that has contributed to some of the highest grossing films and broadcast projects of all time.”

The SIV will honor comic book legend Stan Lee with a lifetime achievement award and f/x guru Douglas Trumbull (“2001: A Space Odyssey”) with the Georges Melies Award during ceremonies Feb. 7 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. The event will be carried on the Reelz cable channel.