Can't preload image

[ManslyAvite]

Hello,
Right now I'm tryin to preload an image in a scene with a place holder movieclip. I can't get it to preload for the life of me. Does anyone know what I'm doing wrong? anytime I test it, it doesnt work. I have searched the forum and tried all the different examples but can't get it to work. Any help in the matter would be greatly appreciated.

It always skips the preloader, and then is blank until the image actually finishes loading.

frame 1

placeholder.loadMovie("ext/images/entrees.jpg");

bytes_loaded = Math.round(placeholder.getBytesLoaded());
bytes_total = Math.round(placeholder.getBytesTotal()); 
getPercent = bytes_loaded/bytes_total; 
loadPercent = Math.round(getPercent*100); 
loadPercent = loadPercent + "%";


if (bytes_loaded == bytes_total) { 
gotoAndPlay(3); 
}

frame 2

gotoAndPlay(1);

edit: when I try and test the variable "bytes_total" I do not get any bytes for it, I'm assuming it's how I am referencing the file.