Image linked to video rather than multiple embed block on a page - Video load issues

Hi there,

I am having an issue with using a section background video. The videos are linked from my Vimeo account and I have a very high speed connection. The videos play fine in Vimeo

I am getting the 5-6 second delay upon the page loading which has been previously mentioned/reported in other posts here.

I have a couple of versions of the 2 different pages I am currently working on and have noticed that when I add 2 embed blocks (linked to other Vimeo hosted videos) to the section below the full screen background I get the 5 second delay in the page correctly rendering the video. If I replace these embed blocks with image blocks the delay goes away.

There is a fallback image in the pages linked below.. watch for the blurred video after the fallback image goes.

Example 1. Full screen video with embed blocks below - Loading delay.

https://www.artfilm.co.uk/travel-science-and-nature

Example 2. Full screen video with image blocks below - No loading delay.

https://www.artfilm.co.uk/travel-science-and-nature-1

My question is slightly multi-threaded so apologies.

I have read this delay has been reported for a couple of years and no solution from Squarespace. I just got off a chat with SQSP support and I have been asked to get email confirmation from Vimeo saying it's not their issue before I can get any further support from SQSP. Not holding out much hope that I can get this resolved.

If anyone can suggest a solution or help me inject any code which tells the page to prioritise loading the background video before the embed block(s) below, that would be amazing...

As I am still populating the site I have the option of trying to reduce the load time of the total page by using still images that link to the corresponding videos.. Navigation-wise I don't want users to leave the site/page but would rather the user clicks on the still image and the video pops up in some kind of viewer in front of the page and when they X out they are where they left the page and can continue reading or click on the next image block to see another video.

If anyone can suggest a way to get this to work or if there is a better way to link to a video from a still image rather than having multiple embed blocks which seems to be slowing the load time of the full screen background video and create the blurry 5 sec delay, that would be equally amazing.

Thanks, Matt

Sorry, one thing to add...

You may need to refresh the linked pages as sometimes the first time it loads the blurry load delay doesn't happen.. adding to the frustration of this issue. It's not consistent.

Cheers, Matt

One improvement I have made is using a Custom Featured Image on each of the embed blocks..

This seems to lessen the chance of getting the blurry first 5 seconds occurrence.

I am going to continue to troubleshoot this issue and will be adding more content to the pages. If the loading issue suddenly comes back to happening 90% of the time as it was, I will post the conditions here.

Hopefully this will help someone else troubleshoot the issue.

If anyone wants to add any suggestions I am happy to test them.

I have moved the version of the page that was not rendering correctly to the following unlisted link

https://www.artfilm.co.uk/travel-science-and-nature-2

Many thanks, Matt