A Journey from Small Town to Hollywood
Mike Van Waes, a native of Connecticut, has always been drawn to the message of “Lilo & Stitch,” the 2002 animated Disney movie that celebrates embracing one’s uniqueness and finding a family. As a gay man from a small town, he often struggled to be his authentic self, which inspired him to bring this message to a new generation through a live-action remake. The film, released in May, is a project he helped develop with the California-based Rideback production company.
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Van Waes grew up in New Fairfield, where his passion for art and storytelling began. He graduated from New Fairfield High School in 1998 and attended Penn State University before transferring to NYU Tisch School of the Arts. There, he focused on film and screenwriting, realizing that the stories he created while drawing could become compelling movies.
After college, Van Waes moved to Los Angeles and started as an assistant at The Jim Henson Company. He later joined DreamWorks, where he worked his way up to become a story analyst. This role allowed him to read and evaluate story ideas, learning from the best and worst of what was out there. He eventually worked for Paramount Pictures as well.
Despite his success in reading stories, Van Waes wanted to create his own. He wrote several screenplays that were not picked up, but in 2015, he sold his script for “Hammerspace,” a story about a terminally ill teenager searching for information about his father. Since then, he has continued working as a screenwriter, tackling projects across various genres, including family, horror, comedy, and sci-fi, many of which remain unannounced.
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Van Waes believes that aspiring writers often get stuck trying to achieve perfection early on, which prevents them from starting. His first script sale came after eight full feature screenplays, each step bringing him closer to his goals.
As the first writer on the “Lilo & Stitch” remake, Van Waes aimed to keep the spirit of the original film while expanding the story and giving the new version a reason to exist. Key changes included exploring the relationship between Lilo and her sister Nani and emphasizing Stitch’s arc by giving him a moment of true selflessness. Smaller tweaks involved changing the disguises used by alien antagonists Jumba and Pleakley while hunting down Stitch.
Van Waes noted that the original film provided a rich platform to build upon, with its depth, weirdness, heart, humor, and specificity. He wanted to show more about how Nani’s life had been disrupted, highlighting the sacrifices she made as she transitioned from a high school senior to a full-time caretaker.
Ultimately, Van Waes hopes that viewers will feel good after watching the new film. He encourages aspiring filmmakers to follow their passion and not focus too much on perfection. Writing what you care about, believe in, and that speaks to you is what makes your work stand out. By putting a little of yourself and the topics you care about into your stories, you can make a lasting impact.
