While still in Atlanta he would go on to work at LaFace Records under the guidance of LA Reid and Babyface and lead recording artist TLC to capturing Grammy Song of the Year with their hit No Scrubs. With over 25 million records sold and one Grammy publishing award, Tony Mercedes would then start his film company to supply videos for recording artist. After directing some 30 video, Tony Mercedes has set his sights on the Urban Christian Market as a film maker. Starting the First Family Film Group in Los Angeles, A.R. Johnson and his writing partner author Monique Lawton are aggressively making moves toward getting their first film, Outside These Walls formerly Prayer’s Ball completed.  With talented actors showing interest in participating once funding is secured such as Clifton Powell (Ray, Woman Thou Art Loose, Next Friday, Dead Presidents etc…, Glenn Plummer (Day After Tomorrow, Speed 2, South Central etc), Lou Myers ( The Fighting Temptations, A Different World ), & Robert Miano ( Donnie Brasco, Thick As Thieves etc),Radio personality Rashan Ali. Grammy award winners Kelly Price, Betty Wright, Kandi Burress (Escape), along with Ann Nesby and Regina Belle, this film is guaranteed to succeed at its intended task. Tony is also in the final stages of completing a documentary entitled Every Soldier Counts. It is an in-depth look into the world of women in the ministry.

First Family Films was started because Tony saw a need for the Christian family and realized that Hollywood only had interest in sales as opposed to salvation, so he decided to step out on faith and follow his newly found spirit.

"The script was thought provoking, and the more I read the more I wanted to read. It is timeless, fearless in that it addresses all of the taboos of church versus nonbelievers. I saw myself, I saw my family, and I saw fellow parishioners that I've grown up around my whole life. Prayer's Ball made me believe that there is still yet to come an untapped way of reaching people from every walk of life. After reading the script, I knew that I wanted my involvement in this project to be more intricate because Prayer's Ball felt very personal. The world has not met Tony Mercedes yet, but they are about to. There is a new breed coming that will show the whole world that without Christ you can taste success, but with him you can eat it at every meal! Prayer's Ball is not only a story of redemption, but it is a wake up call to those who think they have got this God-thing figured out. I am excited with anticipation to see this film on the Big Screen. I am obligated to Tony spiritually. God has made him my covenant brother and I am my brother's keeper.   "-Kelly Price- If Tony’s music career is any indication of what can be expected, the Christian film industry better make way for this southern gentleman with a mission. In Tony’s own words the only true way to predict the future is to create it!!