August 29, 1995, at 8:30 a.m.
Alameda County, California.
Kyle arranged the meeting and arrived at Pixar Animation Studios punctually.
"Good morning, Mr. Lasseter," Kyle greeted.
"We extend our warm welcome to Mr. Page on behalf of Pixar Animation," Lasseter expressed with enthusiasm.
It should be noted that John Lasseter, the head director of the "Toy Story" series and the organiser of the future Pixar Five, was the one greeting Kyle at Pixar Animation.
Kyle found it surprising that Lasseter himself was at the reception.
This isn't mere flattery; Lasseter's future reputation is simply immense. His name is the most renowned in the global animation industry.
He is an absolute master of animation!
The iconic desk lamp seen at the beginning of Pixar's animated films originated from Lasseter's concept.
In the years to come, the Pixar Five will earn the Oscar for Best Animated Feature Film. Each of them will become famous. Additionally, all members of the Pixar Five are set to receive the Oscar Lifetime Honorary Award in the future. Movies like "Toy Story", "Cars", "Finding Nemo", "The Incredibles", "Up", and "The Good Dinosaur" are all products of their creativity.
These 3D animated features not only garnered significant global box office earnings but also generated related revenue that was several times, or even dozens of times, greater than the box office figures.
Cars, in particular!
Its ancillary profits exceed one billion dollars every year, making it one of the most lucrative animations alongside "Peppa Pig."
A billion dollars?!
Every single year?!
"It would be amazing if all that wealth were mine."
As he pondered this, Kyle felt a surge of emotion. Curse the logistics manager of the entertainment industry, curse the cramped 70-square-meter apartment; I want to amass great wealth in this lifetime!
A bit embarrassing.
A little reminiscent of a middle school boy.
Somewhat prideful.
And? Who can resist money, particularly billions in wealth?
"Mr. Page, are you alright?"
John Lasseter observed Kyle with some curiosity. It was because Kyle appeared rather... overexcited.
"Uh, I'm fine; let's head inside and chat." Kyle attempted to mask his embarrassment.
Embarrassing!
So embarrassing!
"It's just that I lack experience in grand settings." Kyle felt frustrated with himself.
Upon entering Pixar Animation Studios, Kyle was brimming with anticipation. It has been said that Pixar's environment and atmosphere are among the best worldwide, incorporating elements of amusement parks and family, promoting a joyful work atmosphere. This also explains why many talented individuals are attracted to Pixar.
"This... is this your studio?!"
Kyle was taken aback. What he witnessed was entirely different from his expectations.
A cramped and disorganised workspace, with animation artists sporting untidy hair and untrimmed beards, they seemed no different from a bunch of IT workers.
"I apologise for the mess; haha."
John Lasseter appeared quite embarrassed: "Currently, our environment is somewhat lacking, but I have faith that once Toy Story is released, Pixar will achieve global fame!"
As he spoke, Lasseter's excitement grew.
"It's okay. It's alright."
Kyle presented himself as highly understanding, though he didn't genuinely feel that way.
"Fantastic, fantastic. The more challenging your situation appears, the more confidence I will have, and I'm sure I can save quite a bit of money, hehe."
John Lasseter exhibited considerable immaturity at the time, showing a stark contrast to the confidence he later developed.
Despite his loud proclamations, I truly believe Pixar will achieve global recognition!
However, he was quite uncertain himself.
The reality was that Pixar was operating at a loss for many years.
In the early 1980s, Pixar had to sell itself because its owner, Lucas, was undergoing a divorce and required a substantial sum for settlement. Jobs purchased the company for $5 million. Over the next decade, Jobs put in an additional $55 million, yet it remained ineffective.
They continuously lose money each year.
The morale at Pixar was nearly nonexistent!
After the 1990s, Jobs attempted multiple times to sell Pixar, but no buyers emerged as they feared financial losses.
"Regrettably, I arrived too late. Had I arrived a few years earlier, I could have acquired Pixar for sure."
Kyle felt a private frustration but also recognised the high risks involved. Toy Story represented Jobs and Pixar Animation's last hope and failure would mean their demise. Selling it at this point was out of the question.
"This time, I need to secure the Toy Story peripheral rights for the lowest possible price!" thought Kyle.
However, the negotiations that followed took Kyle by surprise.
The negotiator was neither John Lasseter, the leader among Pixar's five directors, nor anyone from Pixar itself, and certainly not Steve Jobs.
"Good morning, Mr. Page. My name is Max Lee, representing Dabell Negotiation Company," announced the well-dressed middle-aged man in a black suit.
[DaBell Negotiation Company is a well-known business negotiation firm throughout California.]
"Well..."
Kyle regarded Max Lee, who appeared sharp yet had an unfriendly glint in his eyes.
"Punctilious! Pixar and Jobs are quite cunning!" Kyle mused.
I initially believed I could secure the peripheral copyright at the lowest cost, but it now appears unachievable. I completely misjudged their situation.
First, you notice their poor management, followed by their relentless determination to fight fiercely.
What's behind this?
A display of power!
Kyle waved his hand and smiled, stating, "It's all part of the negotiation process."
"Naturally, I sincerely appreciate Pixar Animation's confidence in us, and I thank Mr. Page for his understanding," Max Lee replied with a smile.
Upon hearing this, Kyle frowned in displeasure.
Kyle pulled out the documents and said, "Let me present my offer first. I am seeking all rights to the toys, character patches, stationery, posters, keychains, capsule toys, pendants, and other related merchandise for 'Toy Story' across six states: California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Idaho, and Oregon. I'm proposing a 10-year license for $500,000."
"No! No! No!"
Max Lee shook his head and replied with a smile, "Mr. Page, your offer is far too low. You should be aware that last year, the licensing for Disney's The Lion King was priced at $970,000 just for California, and that was for a mere five-year license."
"Mr. Max, you mentioned that's Disney's The Lion King, not Toy Story, which has an unpredictable future."
Kyle could not help but chuckle, adding, "I'm also taking a significant risk here."
Very well.
Kyle was indeed bold.
While the $500,000 licensing price is not reflective of the value of "Toy Story," apart from Kyle, the time traveller, who could foresee its astonishing performance post-release, no one knows how it will truly perform.
Well, even Pixar Animation has no clue.
The negotiations reached an impasse!
"I apologise, but we'll need to discuss this at another time."
Kyle wasted no time, stood up, and departed.
The ideal negotiation price varies greatly.
Kyle requested $500,000 for the rights in six states, while Pixar was asking for $4 million.
The discrepancy is a staggering eightfold!
How will the discussions progress from here?!
In this first negotiation,
Both parties are notably strong.
Kyle was not in a rush either.
There are still several months ahead until the release of "Toy Story." Currently, major Hollywood studios are not optimistic about the potential of 3D animated films. After all, Disney's "The Lion King" generated an astonishing $850 million in box office revenue globally last year.
The first-ever 3D animated feature film?
What does that even mean?
Kyle's confidence stems from the prevailing scepticism regarding the "Toy Story" film.
...
Pixar Animation Studios.
Steve Jobs' workspace.
Indeed, before any discussions even got underway, Jobs, being the primary shareholder, had already taken his place in the office, highlighting how much he valued Kyle.
"Boss, don't you think that the $4 million licensing fee for six states is excessively high and might deter investors?" John Lasseter expressed concern.
Jobs' eyelids fluttered at this remark, rendering him momentarily speechless.
Despite his eccentric nature, the enormous success of the hand-drawn animation "The Lion King" made Jobs sceptical about the 3D project "Toy Story."
His main focus was to maximise profits.
If there's an opportunity to take advantage of someone, do it!
"Humph! It's merely $500,000. Just forget about it!" Jobs retorted dismissively.
That's simply his nature. Even if he experiences some regret, he will never admit it.
"Uh... alright, it's your call."
John Lasseter found himself at a loss for words, unable to sway Jobs' decision. After all, Jobs held complete control and had a reputation for being short-tempered, potentially lashing out at others.
"Alright, let's return to our tasks. This is just the initial negotiation. I'm confident Kyle Page will be back," Jobs asserted.
Yet, he wasn't entirely sure of himself.
Jobs used to possess a great deal of pride and arrogance, but after being ousted from Apple and facing multiple investment failures, he lost several years and much of his confidence!
Not just him, anyone in his shoes would feel the same.
In truth, Jobs' intuition was correct!
How could Kyle possibly let go of Toy Story? It was a significant source of revenue! If Kyle didn't need money, would he merely seek the peripheral rights in six states?
It's a clear opportunity for complete dominance across the entire country!