A method comprising: providing, by an application executed by a processing device, a playback of a media item comprising a video portion and an audio portion, wherein a plurality of resources are reserved for the playback of the media item, wherein the plurality of resources comprises at least one first resource and at least one second resource associated with playback of the video portion; receiving, by the application, a first message during the playback of the media item; in response to the receipt of the first message, stopping the playback of the video portion while continuing to provide the audio portion, wherein the stopping comprises: releasing the first resource; continuing to hold the second resource for a period of time after receipt of the first message; and releasing the second resource in response to the period of time elapsing before a receipt of a second message that triggers a resumption of the playback of the video portion; receiving, by the application, the second message while continuing to provide the audio portion; and in response to the second message, resuming the playback of the video portion, the resuming of the playback of the video portion comprising: reacquiring any released resources and coordinating synchronization of the playback of the video portion with the playback of the audio portion that continued to be provided. providing, by an application executed by a processing device, a playback of a media item comprising a video portion and an audio portion, wherein a plurality of resources are reserved for the playback of the media item, wherein the plurality of resources comprises at least one first resource and at least one second resource associated with playback of the video portion; receiving, by the application, a first message during the playback of the media item; in response to the receipt of the first message, stopping the playback of the video portion while continuing to provide the audio portion, wherein the stopping comprises: releasing the first resource; continuing to hold the second resource for a period of time after receipt of the first message; and releasing the second resource in response to the period of time elapsing before a receipt of a second message that triggers a resumption of the playback of the video portion; releasing the first resource; continuing to hold the second resource for a period of time after receipt of the first message; and releasing the second resource in response to the period of time elapsing before a receipt of a second message that triggers a resumption of the playback of the video portion; receiving, by the application, the second message while continuing to provide the audio portion; and in response to the second message, resuming the playback of the video portion, the resuming of the playback of the video portion comprising: reacquiring any released resources and coordinating synchronization of the playback of the video portion with the playback of the audio portion that continued to be provided. reacquiring any released resources and coordinating synchronization of the playback of the video portion with the playback of the audio portion that continued to be provided.