Nam June Paik, for those outside the world of video art, is perhaps the most highly regarded creative mind in the medium's relatively brief history. Combining his love for music and electronics, it was Paik who initially fused the two with colorful, creative installations and public performances. His innovative style earned Paik massive success worldwide, from his home country of South Korea to his Manhattan stomping grounds. Those who knew him generally speak of "Nam June" as a generous, free-spirited man whose influence extended beyond his death in January of 2006.

Lessons from the Video Master, sadly, is a rousing disappointment for fans of Paik's work. Recorded during the artist's wake and memorial reception, this 47-minute feature by video artist Skip Blumberg may stand as the longest 47 minutes in recent memory. Essentially, it's a non-stop collection of talking heads remembering their fallen hero; a fine sentiment on the surface, if Blumberg had planned and organized everything a little better. For those relatively unfamiliar with the names featured here, it'll feel like being stuck at a wine and cheese party with no one to talk to.

If all this sounds a bit harsh, Lessons from the Video Master really isn't all bad...it just suffers from a half-baked presentation style. The sense of disorganization is confirmed early on: Blumberg aims to pay tribute to his friend and colleague by toting a video camera to the wake, only to forego recording the service at the last minute. Instead, we're simply treated to a parade of famous and not-so-famous video artists from the area: some are half-drunk, mildly eccentric or just plain annoyed at having a camera thrust in their face. A few jovial participants help liven things up, but here's the bottom line: most of what's here isn't remotely interesting.

The low-budget video effects (and absolutely horrible font choices, seen above) attempt to give Lessons from the Video Master a retro feel that genre purists might appreciate, but they're much too frequent and predictable for their own good. In all honesty, it doesn't look like the work of a video artist who's been practicing his craft for decades...it looks like a first-year student film.

No matter if you're unfamiliar with Nam June Paik's career or a seasoned veteran, the most fitting tribute you can pay to the late artist is to remember his work. Lessons from the Video Master is an odd curiosity that falls flat in execution, and should only be viewed by those who absolutely, positively need to see footage of Nam June Paik's funeral. Only a handful of memorial services have been interesting enough to record on film, but this certainly isn't one of them.

This plain-wrap DVD package pairs the video with another like-minded "tribute" to the artist...and oddly enough, a condensed version of the main feature. Let's take a closer look, shall we?

Presented in its original 1.33:1 aspect ratio, Lessons from the Video Master looks about as good as the videotaped source material will allow. The color palette is often a bit too saturated, though black levels are generally solid. Minor instances of edge enhancement were detected; other than that, a few hints of softness were on display during the taped footage.

The audio is presented in a straightforward 2.0 Stereo mix, though some of the dialogue is tough to understand. Subtitles or Closed Captions would've helped in some instances, but neither are included.

Interestingly enough, a Condensed Version of the main feature (8:59) has also been included. This cut trims roughly 30 minutes from the reception interviews, reminding us how much could've stayed on the cutting room floor. Closing things out is a text-based Bio and Statement from Skip Blumberg.

Naim June Paik certainly influenced a number of artists, but Lessons from the Video Master is more of a half-baked curiosity than a fitting tribute. A seemingly endless stream of talking head interviews bogs down the proceedings; especially frustrating, since the entire production seems disorganized and poorly edited. An assortment of cheap video effects and hard-to-read fonts only make things worse---and though the low-budget style may appeal to purists, they'll seem painfully awkward to everyone else. The DVD presentation isn't half bad, combining a decent technical presentation with at least one decent supplement. It tries to sound interesting, but Lessons from the Video Master ultimately fails to capture the passion and spark of the artist it pays tribute to. Skip It.