Yahoo Messenger-style buzz prank story

Try it: start from this sample

Why a buzz makes a good joke

A buzz is an attention-getter with no words attached, which makes it perfect for comedy: the sender says nothing and the receiver has to react. The Yahoo Messenger-style window has a Buzz! button in its layout, so the prank reads at once even in a still image.

This is a story page, so the look is only a stage. ChatsRat is not affiliated with Yahoo; the original service has ended or changed and the artwork here is original.

Structure of the sample

The sample runs on escalation. The first buzz is a single word, the reply explains why it is a bad moment, the second message doubles the buzz, and the last line is the victim's dramatic exit. Three beats of rising annoyance, then a clean ending.

Notice that the prankster never explains himself. If you add a line that justifies the prank, the joke loses its edge. Let the viewer supply the reason.

Pacing it for video

Show each message for about as long as it takes to read it aloud, then add half a second. For the buzz lines, hold a little shorter, because the joke is speed. If you export on the Creator plan, the animation controls let you choose slow, normal or fast reveal.

Add a shake in your video editor on the buzz messages only. Keep the shake small and brief, and never use flashing effects that could bother viewers sensitive to them.

Tips

• Make the prank harmless and mutual; both characters should be friends who could laugh about it later.
• Write the victim's lines in full sentences and the prankster's in capitals, so the contrast is visible at a glance.
• End on the victim's action, such as unplugging, rather than a punchline sentence.
• Try a version where the final message comes from the prankster: a single apologetic smiley.
• Label the clip as a fictional comedy sketch in the caption.

Questions