I would recommend Ubuntu's mini installation iso:
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Insta ... mmended.29
If you have used Ubuntu (or any Ubuntu variant) then it will be familiar. It uses a text based install and allows you to choose what packages to install on top of the required base packages. You could then install vlc and run the clvc version with the web interface... I installed it on an old laptop to host a dedicated minecraft server.
If you need a gui, then I would suggest Xubuntu's core iso:
https://xubuntu.org/news/introducing-xubuntu-core/
Which actually builds off of Ubuntu's mini iso, and overlays Xubuntu's core gui elements and nothing more.