A visual effects pioneer who worked with Gene Roddenberry in the early days of the original Star Trek to create the transporter "beam" and other effects is being recognized with a prestigious industry honor.

Howard A. Anderson, Jr., will receive the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) Presidents Award at a ceremony on February 8 in Century City. The award is presented annually for extraordinary contributions to advancing the art of filmmaking.

Anderson's credits include visual effects for hundreds of films, with two Oscar nominations, plus titles and visual effects for many classic TV shows such as I Love Lucy and My Favorite Martian.

Anderson and his brother Darrell began working with Roddenberry in 1964 to create starfields and invent a photographic technique to enhance the illusion of people being "beamed" on and off the Starship Enterprise, according to an ASC press release. The Andersons also produced other effects including matte paintings of alien worlds.

Past recipients of the ASC Presidents Award include Douglas Trumbull, special photographic effects director on the 1979 "Star Trek: The Motion Picture."

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