He's waded into crowds of screaming tweens to capture Justin Bieber in action, orchestrated daring mountainside battles between Cobra and G.I. Joe, and showed the world how well Channing Tatum could hoof it with "Step Up."
Now Jon. M. Chu is taking on the world of crowdsourcing.
Fresh off the blockbuster hit "G.I. Joe: Retaliation," Chu has signed a pact to serve as a special director-in-residence and mentor for new mobile phone film festival that is sponsored AT&T, according to an individual with knowledge of the deal tells TheWrap.
Also read: Comic-Con 2013: 'Avengers 2' to Follow Dark, Destructive 'Age of Ultron' Comic Book
Chu will assist the Los Angeles digital marketing agency interTrend Communications on the AT&T Take Your Shot Films project, which spotlights web videos shot with smart phones. Winners of a national sweepstakes will get a chance to roll up their sleeves alongside Chu and will get the opportunity to work with the director in a one-on-one capacity.
Chu will be involved in helping the public craft the finished product, the individual said, and other notable creative talent will be announced at a later date.
InterTrend did a similar crowdsourcing style promotional campaign for AT&T last year, launching a webseries called "Away We Happened." The show drew on South Korean soap operas to tell the story of a couple who begin a cross-country relationship after they accidentally swap suitcases at the airport. Produced in conjunction with Wong Fu Productions, "Away We Happened" attracted 20 million views.
Chu is on a roll. "G.I. Joe: Retaliation" earned more than $370 million worldwide and he has been tapped to direct the third film in the action franchise. Chu also directed the "Step Up" films and the Justin Bieber concert film "Never Say Never." He will oversee Bieber's upcoming 3D concert film of his "Believe" tour.
Based in Long Beach, Calif., interTrend numbers State Farm, JCPenny and Toyota among its clients.