{FMXPro} target root from embedded MC

I have a movie clip embedded in a scroll pane on level 2 of a multi-.swf project. I am trying to target the root movie to load another .swf (a video player window) from buttons inside the embedded MC. the buttons work on the external .swf but not when loaded onto the main timeline.

i have tried on the button itself:

on (release) {
_root._root.loadMovieNum (“vidPlayer.swf”, 4);
}

on (release) {
_parent._parent.loadMovieNum (“vidPlayer.swf”, 4);
}

on (release) {
_root._root.createEmptyMovieClip (“container”, 4)
loadMovie (“vidPlayer.swf”, “container”);
}

and also on an action layer:

but1.onRelease = function () {
_root._root.loadMovieNum (“vidPLayer.swf”, 4);
}

any ideas???