Vurt App Helps Indie Filmmakers Stream Vertical Videos

Independent filmmakers just got a game-changing shortcut to reaching viewers on their phones.

Vurt, a new streaming app launched this week, lets indie creators upload vertical videos directly to audiences without navigating the maze of traditional distributors. The platform already hosts over 100 original micro-series, full-length films, and TV shows, with new titles dropping weekly.

The brains behind Vurt is Ted Lucas, founder of Slip-N-Slide Records, who worked with hip-hop legends like Rick Ross and Trick Daddy. While distributing his documentary "Miami Kingpins," Lucas saw firsthand how broken the system was for independent creators.

"Not every content creator and filmmaker has the resources and access to overcome these hurdles," Lucas told TechCrunch. "I realized that it's a problem that I could potentially fix."

Here's what makes Vurt different: filmmakers submit their content directly, get approved, and go live within 48 to 72 hours. Compare that to traditional streaming services where distribution can take months and require expensive aggregators.

The platform runs on an advertising model, splitting revenue 50/50 with creators through non-exclusive licensing deals. That means filmmakers keep the rights to their work while earning money from ad placements. The catalog already includes films featuring Kevin Hart and Vivica A. Fox.

Vurt enters a booming market. Vertical micro-drama platforms like ReelShort are projected to hit $1.2 billion in consumer spending this year alone. Even TikTok launched its own micro-drama app in January, signaling where the industry is headed.

The Ripple Effect

The shift to vertical video isn't just changing how we watch content. It's democratizing who gets to share their stories. Traditional barriers like distribution deals and production company gatekeepers are crumbling.

Young viewers already consume most content on their phones. Vurt's team, which includes producer Eric Tomosunas and former BET executive Tarik Brooks, built the platform around that reality rather than fighting it.

"The way people consume content has already changed, and we're building something that fits that future," Lucas said.

The app is free on iOS and Android, with a web version that maintains the vertical-only format. For creators tired of waiting for their big break, Vurt offers something better: a direct connection to viewers who are already watching.