Question on loading multiple movieclips

I’m thinking this can be done, but I’m just not sure how I could accomplish it.

I have a potential client that would like their navigation in the portfolio section to be available as the portfolio is loading.

For example there’s 10 thumbnails, the thumbnails don’t appear on the screen until that particular portfolio piece is loaded. After the first one has loaded the second will begin preloading, and so on until the whole portfolio is loaded.

I was hoping this could be done by maybe having all of the portfolio pieces in one external movieclip.

Thanks!