"Batteries Not Included" (1971), a stop-motion film by Joe Sciorra

This is a stop-motion, 16mm film starring G.I. Joe and Barbie that I made in 1971 when I was a sixteen-year-old student in Brooklyn's South Shore High School with a grant from the Young Filmmakers Foundation and a lot of help from Peter Wallach. It was screened at New York City's Museum of Modern Art. The only known review is found in the journal "Hospital Community Psychiatry" (1975). Vol. 26, p. 309.
"BATTERIES NOT INCLUDED
(5 minutes, color, 1974).
Made by Joe Sciorra (aged 16).
Distributed by the Youth Film Distribution Center, 43 West 16th Street, New
York, New York 10011.
Purchase, $60; rental, $8.
This brief account of a pickup and a hectic sexual encounter would be a marvelous ice-breaker for a group discussion or class on sexuality. Using Barbie and Ken dolls, animated through stop-action photography, the young filmmaker makes a hilarious but trenchant comment on casual sex. The good-natured impudence of the approach should mollify those whose sensibilities might be offended by the explicit sex. In a postlude to their act, the dolls take curtain calls. Then, just to show how mechanical it all is, they exchange heads."

[@langalot]

So awesome to see this! I still have my YOUNG FILMMAKERS book by Rodger Larson and Ellen Meade. It was one of the first things to light my filmmaking dreams.

[@victorygirl38games36]

This was great! Also very funny :)

[@jankk]

OMG This is awesome! And kinda creepy, lol X-D I LOVE IT!

[@christopherparrisjr.3146]

that's actually pretty cool

[@scottedelman]

I can't tell you how weird it feels to watch this -- considering the last time I saw it was 47 years ago when you screened it in class! I don't think the teacher was too happy with all that hot doll-on-doll action, though!

[@italianrap]

Scott! Great to see you here. (I replied to yr FB message). WOW! I don't remember that classroom screening. I can only assume it was in the art class because that was where I found our about the film class.

[@TheDollMary]

I liked this. You should do more,

[@italianrap]

it was 16mm, a wonderful Bolex.

[@milestone_achiever4634]

Anyone remember Gumby and Davey & Goliath????

[@joewars66]

Classic super 8

[@billcenne7262]

hard to believe the school administration sanctioned this. especially considering gi joe and barbie aren't even anatomically correct, lol!