"Tony vs. Paul": Local Filmmakers Nominated for a Webby

Tony Fiandaca (Fitchburg) and Paul Cummings (Medford) are friends who met at Framingham State College, and their stop-motion clash of extraordinary dudes has been viewed more than 4 million times on YouTube. The pair, who work together as Free Poster Films, has earned a nomination from the Webby Awards for best viral video.

Filmed at locations from Upton to Gloucester, this is simply one of the most friggin' awesome online videos that this Bostonist has seen. It's even more impressive when you find out that there is almost no computer-generated trickery. While obviously edited on a computer, these guys actually shot thousands of stills to construct a 5-minute mêlée that's somewhere between a Hong Kong flying-wire fight and a battle between Jedi Knghts. (Yes, they jumped in the air over and over for the flying segments.)

Clearly "Tony vs. Paul" is the most creative video in its category; their competition includes "Obama Girl" and the kid with a Barry White voice singing "Chocolate Rain." They should win the juried Webby competition, but anyone can vote for the People's Voice award. It takes a couple minutes to register, and you can vote until May 2. Didn't the PA Primary give you the jones to vote for something?

Let's bring "Best Viral Video" to Titletown!