(7/20/99, 4 p.m. PDT) - Teen singing sensation Monica is following in the footsteps of her "The Boy Is Mine" duet partner, Brandy, and branching out into film. The teen-singing sensation will make her acting debut in Love Song, an upcoming MTV television movie about a young woman torn between the life her parents have planned for her and the world she experiences after meeting a musician from the wrong side of the tracks.

Although Monica recorded with singer/ actress Brandy, she turned to another diva for advice on making the transition to the movie world. "Actually I talk to Whitney [Houston] more about those type of things," she said. "She has two very phenomenal movies under her belt, The Bodyguard and Waiting To Exhale. She basically explained how disciplined I would have to be and just to be mentally ready."

Monica's film debut is currently in production and will feature new music from the singer. MTV has planned a series of original made-for-TV movies that will air on the network, including Hip-Hopera, The Breeder's Box, The Exes, Tupac: The Early Years, Anatomy Of A Hate Crime, and Tag Team.