Short video platforms like TikTok have changed the streaming landscape. This shift has prompted traditional streaming services like Disney+, Peacock, and Netflix to explore short-form video features. It raises the question of how indie filmmakers can capitalize on this vertical video trend.
Enter Vurt, a mobile-first vertical streaming platform designed specifically for independent filmmakers to upload their micro series or feature films in a vertical format. The platform announced its launch on Tuesday with more than 100 episodes of original micro-series, full-length films, and TV shows spanning various genres. The current library even includes films featuring Kevin Hart and Vivica A. Fox. The company states a new original title is released on the platform each week.
As audiences increasingly gravitate towards content tailored for mobile devices, the adaptation of traditional storytelling methods to fit vertical formats feels like a natural progression. Vurt sees its platform as a solution that aligns with this future.
The success of micro-drama platforms like ReelShort and DramaBox has proven there is a sizable market eager for engaging, bite-sized content. This segment has exploded from a niche status to a multi-billion-dollar industry. ReelShort was projected to achieve about $1.2 billion in gross consumer spending in 2025, while DramaBox generated $276 million in consumer spending last year. Even TikTok launched its own micro-drama app in January.
Vurt also finds itself in direct competition with emerging apps like Watch Club, which features microdrama stories created by SAG-AFTRA and WGA actors and writers.
What truly distinguishes Vurt is its approach to content distribution. Unlike traditional streaming services that often involve lengthy distribution processes through aggregators or major companies, Vurt allows creators to submit their content directly. Once approved, filmmakers can upload their projects, making them available to audiences within a 48-to-72-hour timeframe.
For creators looking to monetize their work, Vurt operates on an advertising-based video on demand model. This enables them to generate revenue through ad placements on their titles. Vurt offers a non-exclusive licensing agreement with a 50/50 revenue split, providing filmmakers with a fair opportunity to profit from their creations.
The brainchild behind Vurt is Ted Lucas, the founder of Slip-N-Slide Records, which has sold millions of records for artists like Trick Daddy, Trina, Rick Ross, and Plies. The idea for Vurt emerged from Lucas’s own experiences while distributing his documentary “Miami Kingpins.” He recognized the distribution challenges facing many filmmakers and wanted to find a solution.
“Not every content creator and filmmaker has the resources and access to overcome these hurdles. I realized that it’s a problem that I could potentially fix,” Lucas told TechCrunch.
Vurt’s founding team brings years of industry experience, including Eric Tomosunas, who founded Swirl Films, director and producer Mark A. Samuels, and angel investor Hilmon Sorey. Additionally, Tarik Brooks, a former executive at BET and REVOLT, serves as an advisory figure.
With young viewers primarily consuming content on their mobile devices, it will be interesting to see how the vertical format resonates with independent creators and major streaming services alike. Could we one day see full-length vertical shows on Netflix, or original films on TikTok? It is too soon to predict the future, but the movement towards vertical storytelling is undeniable.
“The way people consume content has already changed, and we’re building something that fits that future,” Lucas said.
Vurt is now available for free on the App Store and Google Play. There is also a web version that mirrors streaming services but remains dedicated solely to vertical content.