Award-winning special-effects artist Sean Foot has been granted a discharge without conviction on a charge of possessing Ecstasy, so that the offence won't blight his film career.

Foot pleaded guilty in Christchurch District Court yesterday to possessing a small amount of the class B drug. Judge David Holderness granted the discharge but gave Foot 90 minutes to make a $400 donation to the Salvation Army.

Foot has worked with Weta Workshop on The Lord of the Rings films, among others.