Soho visual effects house Rushes has bought two new Shake licences after winning a graphics commission from the BBC, writes Sam Espensen.

Soho visual effects house Rushes has bought two new Shake licences after winning a graphics commission from the BBC, writes Sam Espensen.

After being asked to create the content graphics for a one-off documentary about the Loch Ness monster, the company decided that it required improved systems and new ways of working and the purchase of the Nothing Real compositing software (which is owned by Apple) will go some way to improving the speed at which the work can be completed.

Rushes head of 3D Jonathan Privett told Broadcast: "We've pretty much switched from Discreet's Combustion now to using Shake. It's more efficient for what we're doing - it's quicker, easier to learn and can handle multi-resolutions including HD film."

Although Rushes couldn't reveal details of the BBC Loch Ness project, it is likely that the graphics will be of the elusive monster. Privett's team will handle all the 3D work, which will be split between the department and the Inferno/Flame operators.

The one-off show is among a raft of jobs coming Rushes' way. Other recent work includes content for BBC1 documentary Building the Impossible.