Annoying external menu

ok i have an external swf that is my menu. This swf has a movie clip that contains the nav. buttons. i need those buttons to load movies into the movie clip that is in my main swf.

i use this line for the buttons to load the movie

on (release){
_root.contents.loadMovie(“pictures.swf”);
}

but this doesnt work. if i put a button outside the movie clip that holds the buttons this line works.
what am i doing wrong?