Back in his room, James locked the door and swiftly pulled out the gold card. He activated it as soon as he could and the gold card immediately faded into existence.
[NAME: FRIEDRICH WILHELM MURNAU]
[AGE: 21]
[POSITION: DIRECTOR]
[RANK: 5 STARS]
[HISTORY]
[MURNAU WAS A PIONEER OF GERMAN EXPRESSIONISM, BEST KNOWN FOR NOSFERATU (1922) AND SUNRISE (1927). HIS VISUAL STORYTELLING WAS RICH, ATMOSPHERIC, AND DEEPLY ARTISTIC.]
[SKILLS]
[MURNAU COULD BRING SURREAL, GOTHIC, DREAMLIKE AESTHETICS INTO YOUR VIDEOS AND MOVIES. PERFECT FOR GRUNGE AND EXPERIMENTAL ROCK.]
[NATIONAL IDENTITY STATUS: REGISTERED (NEW)]
When James saw the hologram showing the information of the person he received, he felt elated!
James grinned, his heart pounding.
This is exactly what I needed.
Just then, a knock echoed on the door.
Without hesitation, James opened it. Standing outside was a pale young man in a tailored black suit, his sharp features and distant, thoughtful gaze immediately marked him as Friedrich Wilhelm Murnau.
He said nothing, simply inclining his head slightly.
"Come in," James said, stepping aside.
Once inside, James didn't waste time. "I want you to create a music video for Chris Cornell," he said firmly. "Use the gig and show footage we've been recording. You will find a draft plan and song copy inside this envelope."
Murnau accepted the materials with quiet grace. "Your vision shall be made manifest," he said.
James handed him a sealed envelope with $20,000 in cash.
Without another word, Murnau bowed slightly and exited, his footsteps vanishing into the corridor like a shadow at dusk.
James turned back toward the hotel room's window and smiled.
'Everything is falling into place.'
—--------------------------------------NEXT SCENE--------------------------------------------------------
While James was gloating over his rewards, Joseph Kennedy Sr was already working behind the scenes and already contacted the three newspapers in Washington state to release articles about Chris Cornell's successful first show as opener for Ozzy Osbourne!
By the morning of April 8, 1981. The newspapers already released articles about Chris Cornell's show in Michigan as well as a photo from his early local gig show in Seattle, Washington.
—--------------------------------------NEXT SCENE--------------------------------------------------------
The Rocket, April 1981 Edition
HEADLINE: Teen Grunge Prodigy Chris Cornell Ignites Detroit Crowd on Ozzy Osbourne Tour!
Seattle's underground rock scene may have just found its first national breakout star. 16 year old Chris Cornell, frontman of his own band called "Chris Cornell", made his major tour debut on April 7th at Cobo Arena in Detroit, opening for none other than the Prince of Darkness himself, Ozzy Osbourne.
Word from the Motor City says Cornell delivered a blistering hour-long set drawn from his raw and gritty debut album "Ultramega OK". Chris Cornell's voice, equal parts banshee wail and soulful thunder, cut through the more than 10,000 crowd with shocking authority!
Witnesses on the road said even Sharon Osbourne raised an eyebrow backstage. Not bad for a teenager with just months into his debut and a single mysterious label backing him from Westport City, Sub Pop Inc.
Chris Cornell may still be a name whispered in zines and tape-trading circles right now, but if Detroit's roar is any clue, Seattle's underground is about to thunder into the mainstream!
—--------------------------------------NEXT SCENE--------------------------------------------------------
The Seattle Times, April 9, 1981
HEADLINE: Seattle Teen Joins Ozzy Osbourne Tour, Stuns Detroit Audience
Detroit, Michigan. A local Seattle talent is making waves far from home. Chris Cornell, a 16 year old vocalist from Seattle, performed his first major tour opener Tuesday night, sharing the stage with legendary rock act Ozzy Osbourne at Cobo Arena in Detroit.
Performing under the name Chris Cornell with a backing session band, Chris Cornell's hour-long set included powerful original material and a cover of "Smokestack Lightning" that had the crowd on its feet. Audience reactions were mixed at first, but the consensus grew stronger with each song: this kid has the voice and presence to belong on the big stage.
Cornell, signed under the independent label Sub Pop Inc., has been steadily building buzz through local shows since his December debut. If reactions from industry insiders and touring staff are any indication, his future could be as loud as the crowds he's starting to win over.
—--------------------------------------NEXT SCENE--------------------------------------------------------
Seattle Post-Intelligencer, April 9, 1981
HEADLINE: Teen Rocker From Seattle Surprises National Audience with Stunning Tour Debut
DETROIT. Seattle's music scene is known for its innovation, but no one expected a 16 year old to take the stage on a major national tour and leave the audience speechless. That's exactly what Chris Cornell did Tuesday night in Detroit as the opening act for Ozzy Osbourne's American leg kickoff.
Chris Cornell's performance, a gritty, impassioned hour of heavy original rock, proved a striking contrast to the polished metal theatrics of Osbourne, but it worked. The young artist, dressed simply in black with shoulder-length hair brushing just past his ears, won over a skeptical crowd with sheer vocal force and raw authenticity.
Sources within Osbourne's tour crew confirmed that Cornell has been invited to continue with the tour for additional dates, citing his "unreal vocal power" and "gripping stage presence."
Back home, Chris Cornell's growing base of fans may be witnessing the first steps of a Seattle star on the rise!