Inspiring Conversations with Arion Kidd-Weeks of Flight 9 Beyond

Today we’d like to introduce you to Arion Kidd-Weeks

Hi Arion, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
“It all started with an iPhone and an assignment.”
KiddWeeks is a Los Angeles-based West African, Multidisciplinary Creative, and Magician with roots in Mississippi and Compton. After earning his Bachelor of Arts from Morehouse College, he dove into learning from industry leaders like Michael Refuerzo, Sir Martin Sorrell, Donald A. Morgan, and Wesley Ter Haar. KiddWeeks has worked with WME, IATSE Local 600, Warner Music Group, S4 Capital, MediaMonks, and Beats by Dre. His projects include collaborations with Ryan Garcia, Chris Robinson, Lil Baby, and more.
Arion and his team have created original compositions for Apple, Beats by Dre, and international short films. Since 2018, he has focused on Sci-Fi, Action Thriller, Afro-surrealism, Faith-based, and Sports Thriller genres, employing eclectic film techniques. Temporarily relocating to London in 2022, he produced an original international short film in the UK in 2024 via Flight⁹.
As a Method Creative (Ethnographer), Arion immerses himself in cultures through lived experiences. For the feature film “Westside Glide,” he learned to roller skate, tore his Achilles during a battle, and explored international skate culture. He also learned to ride a motorcycle for an animated commercial with Richard Quinn. Recently, Arion trained in Mixed Martial Arts for a series titled “MotherHands,” which centers on an immigrant cage fighter turned assassin.
“I always try to ground our work in authenticity and cultural accuracy. I’ll go to great lengths to support our team in experiencing culture firsthand.”

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Challenges make life interesting; overcoming them makes life meaningful. Creating systems is challenging and it’s at the heart of what we do. While we have tons of ideas, developing the processes and implementing the tools that allow us to bring these stories to life has been both challenging and incredibly rewarding. It’s a dopamine-inducing journey that has allowed us to thrive creatively and operationally.

We are always thinking about functionality—how visitors and consumers will engage with our work and our client’s brands. This focus informs our manufacturing processes after we’ve allowed our minds to run free with creative development. Balancing form with function is the most beautiful battle, and achieving this balance is what separates an ordinary life from an extraordinary one. Even our website is a tool that enables visionaries to access and build a custom image library from a private library curated by international art directors.

Our dedication to creating smooth systems ensures that every story we tell is impactful, authentic, and engaging, making us proud to overcome the challenges of bringing an idea to reality.

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Flight⁹ is a creative services firm driven by a dedication to understanding diverse cultures. Through ethnography, we immerse ourselves in experiential research and development, bringing authenticity and depth to the stories we tell. Since 2020, we have produced 9 ad campaigns, 5 short films, and 2 feature packages, with verticals extending across media creation. Flight⁹ creates advertising as entertainment.

Our mission is to produce strategic branded content while providing viewers with impactful stories that are true to their culture. We aim to become the most inspiring visual arts company of the 21st century through culturally nuanced storytelling.

Specialties & Services:
Concept Development, Art Direction, Video Editing, Post-Production, Music Scoring, Creative Consulting, Content Development, Social & Digital, Interactive, and Pitch Work.

We’ve been fortunate to produce for clients like Guayaki, Beats by Dre, MSG Network, MACRO, Gymshark, and more.

We pride ourselves on growth and the ethos of an open mind that allows us to use multiple mediums to tell original stories for our clients. With each project and partnership, we get closer to our ultimate goal of being able to donate 2 top-spec laptops to emerging creatives annually. This initiative is inspired by Arion’s personal experience. He recalls the huge impact his first creative spec laptop had on his growth and his family’s lives.

Flight⁹ is not just about creating content; it’s about making a meaningful impact and enabling the next generation to fly.

What does success mean to you?
Success is a simple equation: Power = Work/Time. Beyond that, success is a sensation of inspiration. If we can tell stories that inspire viewers and stay true to the cultures represented, we are successful. If we can donate two top-spec laptops to emerging creatives annually, we are successful. If we can connect our clients to new cultures, we are successful. If we can continue to take risks on innovative tools and methods of storytelling, we are successful. If we can build a team and community that shares a love and dedication to ethnography, and if we can inspire at least one person to live beyond, we will be successful.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.arionkidd.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flight9beyond/
• Other: https://www.flight9.art

Image Credits
Flight 9 Beyond