display a loading animated gif or div while loading data in

[jccompagnon]

Hi,
I have a couple of functions in my controler that get data from other sites via API, ...
Bottom line is it takes 2-3 seconds to get to the view and display the data.

If I put a little javascript loading a div in the view it doesn't work since the view is rendered after the controler is done.

how can I display maybe a view "loading.phtml" first then go with the controler and models and then render a 2nd view when the controler is done ?!?!