Elysium

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Project info:

Creative Concept ArtistFilm – Science FictionSep 2024

Elysium is a dystopian science fiction film set in the year 2154, where Earth is overpopulated and ravaged by poverty, while the wealthy elite live on a luxurious space station called Elysium. The story follows Max (Matt Damon), a factory worker given a chance to infiltrate Elysium using a powerful exosuit and stolen technology.Everything in the world had to feel engineered and real — from the machinery to the weapons, drones, and environments — with a focus on political allegory, class division, and grounded sci-fi realism.

Directed by:Neill Blomkamp
Running time:1h 49m

// ABOUT THE Process

Designing the Robots of of a Future Society. Building a World from the Ground Up.

Ben Mauro played a central role in developing the look of Elysium’s robots, from security droids to medical assistants. His designs balanced grounded engineering with futuristic detail, ensuring each robot felt functional, mass-produced, and culturally embedded within the world. These machines became one of the film’s defining visual elements, reflecting the sharp divide between the privileged citizens of Elysium and the exploited workers of Earth. Mauro’s contributions gave the film’s robotic cast both realism and character, supporting the social allegory at the heart of the story.Working closely with director Neill Blomkamp, Mauro was deeply involved in shaping the entire visual language of Elysium. From the slums of Earth to the orbital habitat of the wealthy elite, he helped define architecture, technology, vehicles, and everyday objects that made the world feel lived-in and believable. His designs extended beyond hero props and set dressing, weaving a coherent visual logic through every aspect of the production. This holistic approach grounded the film’s speculative future in reality, giving audiences a world that felt both extraordinary and disturbingly possible.

// Weapons, Props, and Future Tech

Ben Mauro created designs for many of the film’s iconic weapons and its props

Designed: grenades, rifles, and futuristic laptops. His work emphasized a functional, industrial aesthetic that grounded the technology in the film’s gritty near-future setting.Every piece was designed with story in mind, ensuring it felt authentic in the hands of both Earth’s rebels and Elysium’s enforcers. These designs reinforced the film’s realism and gave actors tools that enhanced both worldbuilding and performance.

// Key Story Moment Illustrations

Mauro illustrated numerous keyframes and story moments that helped the director and crew visualize pivotal scenes.

These images explored lighting, composition, and tone, serving as visual blueprints for sequences that blended live action with heavy visual effects.His keyframes became essential tools for aligning the creative vision across departments, ensuring the final film captured the intensity and spectacle originally envisioned.

// Defining the Visual DNA of Elysium

Mauro’s work on Elysium was integral to the film’s unique visual identity.

From robots and weapons to world-building and narrative illustration, he helped establish a cohesive design language that shaped the movie at every level.His ability to merge cinematic spectacle with believable futurism gave the film its distinctive edge, embedding social commentary within a strikingly realized sci-fi world.