🏆 Bringing Movie Magic to Life: Crafting “The 5 Element” Statuettes for DTEK

At TakeAwards, we believe that trophies and custom awards are far more than decorative objects. They are powerful symbols — of achievement, creativity, legacy, and inspiration. That belief is what drives every project we take on, from corporate recognition awards to movie-inspired collectible statuettes.

One of our most remarkable and technically challenging projects was the creation of custom statuettes inspired by the iconic “The Fifth Element” film. Commissioned by DTEK, this project combined artistry, craftsmanship, engineering precision, and deep respect for cinematic history. What started as a concept turned into a fully realized set of four elemental sculptures, each representing Earth, Air, Fire, and Water — just like in the legendary movie.

In this article, we’ll take you behind the scenes of this unique production, step by step, to show you how we transformed a cinematic idea into tangible, museum-worthy works of art.

The Power of Custom Awards in Modern Branding

In today's competitive landscape, custom awards play an increasingly vital role in corporate culture, event marketing, and brand storytelling. Unlike mass-produced trophies, bespoke awards:

• Carry a unique story and emotional value

• Reflect a company’s identity through material, design, and craftsmanship

• Become memorable centerpieces at ceremonies and events

• Serve as conversation starters and long-lasting symbols of recognition

For companies like DTEK, commissioning a custom-designed award wasn’t just about gifting a decorative object — it was about celebrating their team and brand identity through a cinematic, cultural reference that would instantly resonate with anyone familiar with The Fifth Element

From Concept to Reality: Designing the Elemental Statuettes

The client’s vision was clear: to recreate the four elemental statuettes from The Fifth Element movie with maximum accuracy and premium quality. These artifacts are a key part of the film’s storyline — each representing an element (Earth, Air, Fire, Water) and unlocking mystical powers when combined. Their ancient, stone-like aesthetic was both a challenge and an inspiration for our team.

Unlike typical corporate trophies, this project required us to think like prop designers, blending movie prop recreation techniques with our award manufacturing expertise. From the very first sketches, our goal was to capture not only the form but also the spirit of the original pieces.

📝 Step 1: Detailed Client Consultation and Material Selection

Every successful custom award project begins with a thorough consultation. At TakeAwards, we pay close attention to every detail:

• Material choice: For this project, we recommended using high-quality gypsum as the core material. Gypsum is versatile, allows for fine engraving, and can be finished to resemble aged stone.

• Color and finish: The goal was to match the cinematic look of ancient artifacts, which meant developing a precise pigment formula and finishes that hold up in real life.

• Dimensions: The statuettes needed to be proportionally accurate to the movie props while also practical for packaging and display.

• Packaging: DTEK requested premium presentation boxes that would emphasize the exclusive, collectible nature of the pieces.

We chose our Gypsum Awards collection as the foundation for this project. Gypsum is ideal for handcrafted awards where texture, detail, and authenticity are crucial. Its natural weight and finish gave the statues a realistic, stone-like presence, setting the stage for the rest of the production.

🧰 Step 2: Digital Design and Vector Rendering

Before any physical model is created, our design team develops precise digital drafts. For the Fifth Element statuettes, this stage was particularly critical.

Our designers meticulously analyzed movie stills, concept art, and fan references to ensure accuracy. Every crack, symbol, and engraving was carefully reproduced. Using professional vector design software, we:

• Traced and recreated the elemental symbols with millimeter precision

• Illustrated the intricate surface textures to simulate age and wear

• Designed each statuette from multiple angles to ensure three-dimensional consistency

These detailed vector files serve as the blueprint for both client approval and subsequent production. Once DTEK approved the final design, we moved forward with crafting the master models.

🛠 Step 3: Master Model Creation and Silicone Molding

The master model is the heart of any custom award series. It defines the shape, proportions, and intricate details for every piece that follows.

For this project, our technologists combined traditional craftsmanship with modern tools:

• Wooden core structure: The inner skeleton of each statuette was constructed using wood, reinforced with plywood for stability.

• Laser engraving: We used laser technology to precisely carve elemental symbols and surface details into the plywood shell, ensuring perfect alignment with the vector designs.

• Manual finishing: Skilled artisans added texture and subtle imperfections by hand to replicate the ancient, cracked stone surface seen in the film.

After finalizing the master models, we created high-grade silicone molds. Silicone molds allow us to replicate the master model with perfect accuracy, capturing even the smallest engraved lines and textures. This step is crucial for maintaining consistency and quality across multiple pieces. 

🌈 Step 4: Pigment Testing — mixing pigments directly into wet gypsum

A key technical detail in this project was how we achieved the authentic stone color. Rather than building color through successive surface painting, we mixed pigments directly into the wet (uncured) gypsum and cast each sample immediately in the intended shade. This approach yields a color that is integral to the material — consistent through the entire cross-section of the piece — and more durable than surface-applied finishes.

Our process here included:

• Creating over 10 pigment formulations, varying pigment types and concentrations to achieve subtle earth tones and the “dusty stone” appearance from the film.

• For each formulation, we thoroughly blended pigments into the fresh gypsum mix and cast test pieces right away. This allowed us to assess how the pigment reacted with the gypsum during curing, including any slight shifts in tone or texture.

• Sending these cast samples to DTEK for selection; the client chose the exact shade that best matched their vision.

Mixing pigments into the wet gypsum ensured color stability, consistent visual depth, and a tactile quality that truly felt like carved stone — a must for high-end collectible awards.

👌 Step 5: Casting, Finishing, and Sealing (with the chosen integral pigment)

With the pigment formulation approved, we moved into full production. Using the silicone molds, we cast four gypsum statuettes, each in the selected pigment mix so that the color was part of the cast itself.

The production steps included:

• Careful casting using the pigmented gypsum mix to avoid air bubbles and ensure structural integrity.

• Demolding and surface refinement, where each piece was hand-sanded and carefully finished to maintain the carved stone look while removing any mold marks.

• If subtle surface accents were needed to emphasize certain details, we used light, targeted washes or dry-brushing as an accent only — never as the primary source of color. The primary color remained the integral pigmented gypsum.

• A final protective lacquer/seal was applied to increase durability and slightly enhance the finish while keeping the matte, aged stone effect intact.

This method produced durable, museum-quality replicas with color depth and texture indistinguishable from natural stone.

📦 Premium Packaging: Elevating the Presentation

For awards of this caliber, presentation is everything. Packaging can transform an already stunning piece into a complete luxury experience.

For DTEK’s project, we designed custom black wooden boxes, each with:

• Precision-cut foam inserts tailored to the exact shape of each statuette, ensuring secure transportation and storage

• A matte black exterior with a laser-cut metal logo on the lid, crafted from the same materials used in our Metal Awards collection

• A clean, minimalist design that highlighted the artifacts inside without distracting from them

This level of packaging detail not only protected the statuettes but also created a memorable unboxing moment, reinforcing the prestige of the awards.

🧱 Material Choices: Why gypsum and how we combine materials case-by-case

In custom award manufacturing, the choice of materials plays a major role in the final aesthetic and durability. At TakeAwards, we select and combine materials based on project requirements — not by habit. We typically work with a mix of gypsum, wood, metal, acrylic, and composites, choosing the optimal combination for each design.

• Gypsum awards are ideal for intricate designs, textural effects, and cinematic replicas. They allow for fine detail and a warm, handcrafted feel.

• Metal awards provide elegance, structural strength, and a premium finish — great for logos, bases, or accents.

• Wood and composite elements can add warmth, structural support, or a natural contrast to stone-like materials.

• Rather than often pairing gypsum and metal as a default, we assess whether a metal accent or structural component enhances the design; sometimes the best solution is gypsum with wooden inserts, or gypsum with acrylic inlays, depending on how the piece will be displayed and handled.

This case-by-case approach ensures the final award meets aesthetic goals, functional requirements, and longevity expectations.

TakeAwards: Your Partner in Custom Award Manufacturing

As a full-cycle award manufacturer, we handle every stage of production in-house — from concept and design to casting, finishing, and packaging. This gives us complete control over quality, timelines, and creativity.

Here’s what sets us apart:

• In-house design team that develops unique, brand-aligned concepts

• Expert craftsmen and technologists who bring those concepts to life

• Ability to work with a wide range of materials, from gypsum and metal to wood, acrylic, and composites

• Scalable production, whether you need one bespoke piece or hundreds of identical awards

• International experience and worldwide shipping, including to the USA and Europe

Whether you’re looking for corporate trophies, movie-inspired collectibles, or custom sculptures for a special event, TakeAwards delivers exceptional results.

 Explore Our Collections

Discover more award styles and materials to inspire your next project:

• All Awards

• Gypsum Awards

• Metal Awards

Each collection is designed with customization in mind, giving you endless possibilities to tell your story through design.

Ready to Create Your Own Custom Awards?

Whether you’re planning a corporate ceremony, launching a limited-edition collectible, or recreating iconic movie props, our team at TakeAwards is ready to help.

👉 Contact us today to discuss your vision, and let’s bring it to life with award-winning craftsmanship.