diff --git a/source/core/cheats.cpp b/source/core/cheats.cpp
index 1a7086f8b..b802a7d42 100644
--- a/source/core/cheats.cpp
+++ b/source/core/cheats.cpp
@@ -242,7 +242,7 @@ void changeMap(int player, uint8_t** stream, bool skip)
 
 void endScreenJob(int player, uint8_t** stream, bool skip)
 {
-	if (!skip) EndScreenJob();
+	if (!skip) gameaction = ga_endscreenjob;
 }
 
 //---------------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/source/core/gamestate.h b/source/core/gamestate.h
index 523ead5d0..26d7f6767 100644
--- a/source/core/gamestate.h
+++ b/source/core/gamestate.h
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ enum gameaction_t : int
 	ga_nextlevel,			// Actually start the next level.
 	ga_loadgamehidecon,
 	ga_newgamenostopsound,	// start a new game
+	ga_endscreenjob,
 
 	ga_fullconsole,
 };
diff --git a/source/core/mainloop.cpp b/source/core/mainloop.cpp
index 4d52eaa7b..9be356b4c 100644
--- a/source/core/mainloop.cpp
+++ b/source/core/mainloop.cpp
@@ -133,23 +133,6 @@ void G_BuildTiccmd(ticcmd_t* cmd)
 //==========================================================================
 bool newGameStarted;
 
-void NewGame(MapRecord* map, int skill, bool ns = false)
-{
-	newGameStarted = true;
-	int volume = map->cluster - 1;
-	if (volume >= 0 && volume < MAXVOLUMES)
-	{
-		if (StartCutscene(volumeList[volume].intro, 0, [=](bool) { gi->NewGame(map, skill, ns); })) return;
-	}
-	gi->NewGame(map, skill, ns);
-}
-
-//==========================================================================
-//
-//
-//
-//==========================================================================
-
 static void GameTicker()
 {
 	int i;
@@ -176,6 +159,7 @@ static void GameTicker()
 				FX_SetReverb(0);
 				gi->FreeLevelData();
 				gameaction = ga_level;
+				newGameStarted = true;
 				NewGame(g_nextmap, -1);
 				BackupSaveGame = "";
 			}
@@ -213,6 +197,7 @@ static void GameTicker()
 			C_FlushDisplay();
 			gameaction = ga_level;
 			BackupSaveGame = "";
+			newGameStarted = true;
 			NewGame(g_nextmap, g_nextskill, ga == ga_newgamenostopsound);
 			break;
 
@@ -269,6 +254,10 @@ static void GameTicker()
 			gameaction = ga_nothing;
 			break;
 
+		case ga_endscreenjob:
+			EndScreenJob();
+			break;
+
 			// for later
 		// case ga_recordgame,			// start a new demo recording (later)
 		// case ga_loadgameplaydemo,	// load a savegame and play a demo.
@@ -659,6 +648,7 @@ void MainLoop ()
 		userConfig.CommandMap = "";
 		if (maprecord)
 		{
+			newGameStarted = true;
 			NewGame(maprecord, /*userConfig.skill*/2); // todo: fix the skill.
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/source/core/mapinfo.h b/source/core/mapinfo.h
index 951b58a5e..fff7a9ec3 100644
--- a/source/core/mapinfo.h
+++ b/source/core/mapinfo.h
@@ -64,6 +64,7 @@ struct GlobalCutscenes
 	CutsceneDef DefaultMapIntro;
 	CutsceneDef DefaultMapOutro;
 	CutsceneDef SharewareEnd;
+	CutsceneDef LoadingScreen;
 	FString MPSummaryScreen;
 	FString SummaryScreen;
 };
diff --git a/source/core/parsefuncs.h b/source/core/parsefuncs.h
index e5a1031bd..145abcbb9 100644
--- a/source/core/parsefuncs.h
+++ b/source/core/parsefuncs.h
@@ -100,6 +100,10 @@ void parseDefineCutscene(FScanner& sc, FScriptPosition& pos)
 	{
 		parseCutscene(sc, globalCutscenes.SharewareEnd);
 	}
+	else if (sc.Compare("loading")) // sets the loading screen when entering a level.
+	{
+		parseCutscene(sc, globalCutscenes.LoadingScreen);
+	}
 	else if (sc.Compare({ "episode", "volume", "cluster" }))
 	{
 		FScanner::SavedPos eblockend;
diff --git a/source/core/screenjob.cpp b/source/core/screenjob.cpp
index ca3256d08..6405b3793 100644
--- a/source/core/screenjob.cpp
+++ b/source/core/screenjob.cpp
@@ -356,7 +356,7 @@ bool ScreenJobValidate()
 
 bool StartCutscene(CutsceneDef& cs, int flags, const CompletionFunc& completion_)
 {
-	if (cs.function.IsNotEmpty() && cs.video.IsNotEmpty()cs.function.CompareNoCase("none") != 0)
+	if (cs.function.IsNotEmpty() && cs.video.IsNotEmpty() && cs.function.CompareNoCase("none") != 0)
 	{
 		completion = completion_;
 		runner = CreateRunner();
@@ -440,6 +440,43 @@ void ShowScoreboard(int numplayers, const CompletionFunc& completion_)
 	gameaction = ga_intermission;
 }
 
+//==========================================================================
+//
+//
+//
+//==========================================================================
+
+void NewGame(MapRecord* map, int skill, bool ns)
+{
+	completion = [=](bool) { gi->NewGame(map, skill, ns); };
+	runner = CreateRunner();
+	GC::WriteBarrier(runner);
+
+	try
+	{
+		int volume = map->cluster - 1;
+		if (volume >= 0 && volume < MAXVOLUMES)
+			volumeList[volume].intro.Create(runner);
+
+		globalCutscenes.LoadingScreen.Create(runner, map);
+		if (!ScreenJobValidate())
+		{
+			runner->Destroy();
+			runner = nullptr;
+			completion(false);
+			completion = nullptr;
+			return;
+		}
+		gameaction = ga_intermission;
+	}
+	catch (...)
+	{
+		if (runner) runner->Destroy();
+		runner = nullptr;
+		throw;
+	}
+}
+
 //---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 //
 // 
@@ -468,8 +505,10 @@ void ShowIntermission(MapRecord* fromMap, MapRecord* toMap, SummaryInfo* info, C
 
 		if (toMap)
 		{
-			if (!toMap->intro.Create(runner, fromMap))
-				globalCutscenes.DefaultMapIntro.Create(runner, fromMap);
+			if (!toMap->intro.Create(runner, toMap))
+				globalCutscenes.DefaultMapIntro.Create(runner, toMap);
+
+			globalCutscenes.LoadingScreen.Create(runner, toMap);
 		}
 		else if (isShareware())
 		{
@@ -502,9 +541,7 @@ CCMD(testcutscene)
 	}
 	try
 	{
-		CutsceneDef def;
-		def.function = argv[1];
-		if (StartCutscene(def, 0, [](bool) {}))
+		if (StartCutscene(argv[1], 0, [](bool) {}))
 		{
 			C_HideConsole();
 		}
diff --git a/source/core/screenjob.h b/source/core/screenjob.h
index d44669bd1..7b335f25e 100644
--- a/source/core/screenjob.h
+++ b/source/core/screenjob.h
@@ -7,193 +7,14 @@
 #include "gamestate.h"
 
 using CompletionFunc = std::function<void(bool)>;
-struct JobDesc;
-class ScreenJobRunner;
 
 void Job_Init();
 
-
-#if 0
-class DScreenJob : public DObject
-{
-	DECLARE_CLASS(DScreenJob, DObject)
-public:
-	const int flags;
-	const float fadetime;	// in milliseconds
-	int fadestate = fadein;
-
-	friend class ScreenJobRunner;
-//protected:
-	int ticks = 0;
-	int state = running;
-	bool pausable = true;
-
-public:
-	enum
-	{
-		running = 1,	// normal operation
-		skipped = 2,	// finished by user skipping
-		finished = 3,	// finished by completing its sequence
-		stopping = 4,	// running ending animations / fadeout, etc. Will not accept more input.
-		stopped = 5,	// we're done here.
-	};
-	enum
-	{
-		visible = 0,
-		fadein = 1,
-		fadeout = 2,
-		stopmusic = 4,
-		stopsound = 8,
-	};
-
-	DScreenJob(int fade = 0, float fadet = 250.f) : flags(fade), fadetime(fadet) {}
-	
-	virtual bool ProcessInput()
-	{
-		return false;
-	}
-
-	virtual void Start() {}
-	virtual bool OnEvent(event_t* evt) { return false; }
-	virtual void OnTick() { /*state = finished;*/ }
-	virtual void Draw(double smoothratio) {}
-
-	int DrawFrame(double smoothratio)
-	{
-		if (state != running) smoothratio = 1; // this is necessary because the ticker won't be incremented anymore to avoid having a negative time span.
-		Draw(smoothratio);
-		if (state == skipped) return -1;
-		if (state == finished) return 0;
-		return 1;
-	}
-
-	int GetFadeState() const { return fadestate; }
-
-	virtual void OnDestroy() override;
-};
-
-//---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-//
-//
-//
-//---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
-class DSkippableScreenJob : public DScreenJob
-{
-	DECLARE_CLASS(DSkippableScreenJob, DScreenJob)
-public:
-	DSkippableScreenJob(int fade = 0, float fadet = 250.f) : DScreenJob(fade, fadet)
-	{}
-
-	bool OnEvent(event_t* evt) override;
-	virtual void Skipped() {}
-};
-
-//---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-//
-//
-//
-//---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
-class DBlackScreen : public DScreenJob
-{
-	DECLARE_CLASS(DBlackScreen, DScreenJob)
-public:
-	int wait;
-	bool cleared = false;
-
-public:
-	DBlackScreen(int w, int flags = 0) : DScreenJob(flags & ~(fadein|fadeout)), wait(w) {}
-	void OnTick() override;
-	void Draw(double smooth) override;
-};
-
-//---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-//
-//
-//
-//---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
-class DImageScreen : public DSkippableScreenJob
-{
-	DECLARE_CLASS(DImageScreen, DScreenJob)
-
-public:
-	int tilenum = -1;
-	int trans;
-	int waittime; // in ms.
-	bool cleared = false;
-	FTextureID texid;
-	FGameTexture* tex = nullptr;
-
-public:
-	DImageScreen(FGameTexture* tile, int fade = DScreenJob::fadein | DScreenJob::fadeout, int wait = 3000, int translation = 0) : DSkippableScreenJob(fade), waittime(wait)
-	{
-		tex = tile;
-		trans = translation;
-	}
-
-	DImageScreen(int tile, int fade = DScreenJob::fadein | DScreenJob::fadeout, int wait = 3000, int translation = 0) : DSkippableScreenJob(fade), waittime(wait)
-	{
-		tilenum = tile;
-		trans = translation;
-	}
-
-	void OnTick() override;
-	void Draw(double smooth) override;
-};
-#endif
-
-#if 0
-//---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-//
-//
-//
-//---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
-class ScreenJobRunner
-{
-	enum
-	{
-		State_Clear,
-		State_Run,
-		State_Fadeout
-	};
-	TArray<DScreenJob*> jobs;
-	CompletionFunc completion;
-	int index = -1;
-	float screenfade;
-	bool clearbefore;
-	bool skipall;
-	int actionState;
-	int terminateState;
-	int fadeticks = 0;
-	int last_paused_tic = -1;
-
-public:
-	ScreenJobRunner(TArray<DScreenJob*>& jobs, CompletionFunc completion_, bool clearbefore_, bool skipall_);
-	~ScreenJobRunner();
-	void DeleteJobs();
-	void AdvanceJob(bool skip);
-	int DisplayFrame(double smoothratio);
-	int FadeoutFrame(double smoothratio);
-	bool OnEvent(event_t* ev);
-	void OnFinished();
-	void OnTick();
-	bool RunFrame();
-};
-#endif
-
-
 enum
 {
 	SJ_BLOCKUI = 1,
 };
 
-#if 0
-
-void RunScreenJob(TArray<DScreenJob*>& jobs, CompletionFunc completion, int flags = 0);
-#endif
 void EndScreenJob();
 void DeleteScreenJob();
 bool ScreenJobResponder(event_t* ev);
@@ -203,8 +24,8 @@ void ScreenJobDraw();
 struct CutsceneDef;
 struct MapRecord;
 struct SummaryInfo;
-bool StartCutscene(CutsceneDef& cs, int flags, const CompletionFunc& completion);
 bool StartCutscene(const char* s, int flags, const CompletionFunc& completion);
 void PlayLogos(gameaction_t complete_ga, gameaction_t def_ga, bool stopmusic);
 void ShowScoreboard(int numplayers, const CompletionFunc& completion_);
 void ShowIntermission(MapRecord* fromMap, MapRecord* toMap, SummaryInfo* info, CompletionFunc completion_);
+void NewGame(MapRecord* map, int skill, bool ns = false);
diff --git a/wadsrc/static/filter/duke/engine/engine.def b/wadsrc/static/filter/duke/engine/engine.def
index 85a545e49..be2ca0a01 100644
--- a/wadsrc/static/filter/duke/engine/engine.def
+++ b/wadsrc/static/filter/duke/engine/engine.def
@@ -54,6 +54,11 @@ definecutscene sharewareend
 	function DukeCutscenes.BuildSharewareEnd
 }
 
+definecutscene loading
+{
+	function DukeCutscenes.BuildLoading
+}
+
 definecutscene summary DukeCutscenes.BuildSPSummary
 definecutscene mpsummary DukeCutscenes.BuildMPSummary
 
diff --git a/wadsrc/static/filter/redneck/engine/engine.def b/wadsrc/static/filter/redneck/engine/engine.def
index 51313fd07..2f93e916f 100644
--- a/wadsrc/static/filter/redneck/engine/engine.def
+++ b/wadsrc/static/filter/redneck/engine/engine.def
@@ -22,10 +22,15 @@ definecutscene episode 2
 	}
 }
 
-definecutscene summary RRCutscenes.BuildSPSummary
-definecutscene mpsummary DukeCutscenes.BuildMPSummary // identical with Duke's
 definecutscene mapintro 
 {
 	function RRCutscenes.BuildMapIntro	// this plays the 'travel' animation.
 }
 
+definecutscene loading
+{
+	function DukeCutscenes.BuildLoading // identical with Duke's
+}
+
+definecutscene summary RRCutscenes.BuildSPSummary
+definecutscene mpsummary DukeCutscenes.BuildMPSummary // identical with Duke's
diff --git a/wadsrc/static/zscript/games/duke/ui/screens.zs b/wadsrc/static/zscript/games/duke/ui/screens.zs
index cb3a0e672..c4030a162 100644
--- a/wadsrc/static/zscript/games/duke/ui/screens.zs
+++ b/wadsrc/static/zscript/games/duke/ui/screens.zs
@@ -459,7 +459,7 @@ class DukeMultiplayerBonusScreen : SkippableScreenJob
 
 	override void Start()
 	{
-		Duke.PlayBonusMusic();
+		if (!Raze.isRR()) Duke.PlayBonusMusic();
 	}
 
 	override void Draw(double smoothratio)
@@ -853,11 +853,6 @@ class RRLevelSummaryScreen : SummaryScreenBase
 		return false;
 	}
 
-	override void Start()
-	{
-		Duke.PlayBonusMusic();
-	}
-
 	override void OnTick()
 	{
 		if ((displaystate & printStatsAll) != printStatsAll)
@@ -1031,10 +1026,15 @@ class DukeLoadScreen : ScreenJob
 	
 	ScreenJob Init(MapRecord maprec)
 	{
-		Super.Init();
+		Super.Init(fadein);
 		rec = maprec;
 		return self;
 	}
+
+	override void OnTick()
+	{
+		if (fadestate == visible) jobstate = finished;
+	}
 	
 	override void Draw(double sr)
 	{