     {
         startedLoading();
 
+        var loader :Loader = initLoader();
+        loader.load(new URLRequest(url), getContext(url));
+
+        try {
+            var info :LoaderInfo = loader.contentLoaderInfo;
+            updateContentDimensions(info.width, info.height);
+        } catch (err :Error) {
+            // an error is thrown trying to access these props before they're
+            // ready
+        }
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Initialize a Loader as our _media, and configure it however needed to prepare
+     * loading user content.
+     */
+    protected function initLoader () :Loader
+    {
         // create our loader and set up some event listeners
         var loader :Loader = new Loader();
         _media = loader;

    {
        _initialized = false;
        _isImage = false;
    }

    /**


        // set up the new media
        willShowNewMedia();
        showNewMedia(url);
        didShowNewMedia();
    }

