Growing up in Belgrade, before immigrating to Canada in 1994, Mila Franovic’s creative journey began early—producing photoshoots at 17 years old. Her drive and passion for community-building led her to found Legends Café in 2019, a Vancouver-based casting and talent agency that has since become a hub for both national and international innovative creative projects.
More recently, Mila’s focus has shifted to cultivating community through food. She learned to garden via her BFFs Farm Valley Buds and by playing around in her friend's backyards, as well as in her own home, harvesting natural, locally sourced ingredients to share with friends and neighbours. Inspired by her family’s tradition of bringing people together, she now extends this legacy through cooking, catering, and hosting beautifully prepared meals and memorable dinner party experiences. For Mila, cooking is not just about the food itself—it’s about getting people together, creativity, and community.
Recently, Birkenstock and gravitypope spent a day with Mila, exploring her dynamic world, from her work in talent management to the garden-grown meals she crafts for those close to her.
Read the fulll interview below.
Ceramics from @nathalee_paolinelli
Video by @justinpelletier_
Could you give us a brief introduction, where you are from, where you are currently and what you do?
I'm from Serbia and Montenegro, I am a settler in/on the unceded and ancestral territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.
I'm a casting director, talent agent, stylist, gardener and cook!
What inspired you to launch your own modeling agency?
I've been a stylist for a very long time, and have been in the fashion industry for longer. After casting for Herschel Supply, I found casting to be a more inclusive, connected way to be in community with real people in the fashion industry.
In your opinion, what sets Legends Cafe apart from other agencies?
I really love all the agencies in our ripple, and all the agencies nationally and internationally we work alongside of! We might just be untraditional in the sense that we don't have a formula or rigid descriptions of what an "agency" is. This is probably because we feel like flexibility and the ability to constantly change is very aligned to human nature, and casting/agency life is all about human nature and HUMANS!
What is it about cooking that brings you the most joy?
I feel like cooking is all about being with people. Being with people is why I cook and being with people brings me joy. haha!
I don't actually think I'm good at cooking but I am good at getting people together, pairing ingredients, growing food and putting it together...
Can you explain what “human first casting” means to you and how you implement it in your work?
Basically just prioritizing the people over all else, working from the POV of advocating for our talent when it comes to how we move in this space, and connecting with the talent in an authentic way so that they can advocate for themselves throughout our work together.
How did the name “Legends Cafe” come about?
I knew I wanted to have CAFE at the end of it because everyone loves a cafe as a community center, and the word is cool and makes people feel relaxed lol.
"LEGENDS" cafe from an auto body shop I saw while taking a really fun bus ride when I was traveling on my sabbatical in 2019.
You’re passionate about gardening—what draws you to it, and what do you enjoy most about it?
It makes me feel really connected to the source. It can also force you to practice non-attachment because you have no control over so many aspects of it. It's also most rewarding when you let yourself be super experimental with it.
You often find yourself hosting dinner parties. What led to you becoming a go-to host, and how did that role evolve for you?
When I was going to art school, I started cooking really affordable meals made of ingredients I had around the house/pantry, slowly people started coming over and I started hosting in my cute/small apartment in East Van. It was really nice to get friends together, and in our 20s it was a refreshing way to get together that was not about partying!
What do you find most rewarding about building a community, whether through your talent agency, your garden, or your dinner parties?
One thing that is synonymous in both cooking and my work is that it brings people together, it makes people feel seen, nurtured, and loved, and I think that's a really beautiful gift in this world.
How does your approach to casting reflect your values?
Transparency, authenticity, equal opportunity, and we generally try to be easy to do business with, and we also try to be fun to do business with!
What’s one piece of advice you’d give someone looking to start their own creative venture?
1) I'm tempted to say "just do it", and I do truly feel that in the sense that you CAN and you SHOULD take up space with your beautiful idea/concept
2) Also I think that it's equally important to connect to yourself and check in with yourself authentically about your intention and if it's sustainable.
3) Try new things, meet new people, have new experiences, style as many creative shoots as you can, collaborate as much as you can
4) Cold call people :) Don't be afraid to reach out to that photographer, that stylist, that brand, that agency, etc because you have nothing to lose!
5) Support the people in your community and share info and opportunities so that everyone can grow together
Is there a particular dish you love making when hosting dinner parties? Why does it resonate with you?
This question is not ok, I cannot choose! So I will say that usually the newest thing I am trying to make is ALWAYS my most favourite because I love the new experience of making something new!
Do you find any parallels between growing a garden and growing a business?
Stop it! Yes!
It's crazy I never thought of this! I guess the same thing I said earlier is true:
It makes me feel really connected because I'm working with people.
It can also force you to practice non-attachment because you have no control over so many aspects of it.
It’s also super rewarding because every day is different!
What Birkenstocks are you wearing and why did you pick this pair?
I am wearing the bostons and I think that they are the most timeless for my purpose while being elegant and insanely utilitarian because they are so comfortable and withstand the test of time! They really go well from garden to table!
Any Vancouver shout-outs or recommendations?
Shoutout to my infrastructure managers Leighton Balagno and Dustin Jantz
shout out to my family
Nathallee Paolinelli makes the most beautiful art
annabelle choi studio cafe in china town is amazing
pearle knits stunning, elegant, sustainable fashion brand
i love Donnell Garcia he is the fucking best so i just wanna shout him out tbh
valley buds farm obviously is iconic, find them at antisocial on thursday 12-6 for 2 more weeks!
YAW is the most incredible artist. period.
we also loooove glassfurd and walker
theres so many more but honestly cease fire, acab and land back!
