[daveguy]

Good point. I have seen the single word / phrase prompt for improv. It would be a truly impressive improv group that could make this coherent with an on the spot improv performance (but that wouldn't really be improv). The screenplay seems more difficult than a single word prompt because with the single word there is so much that you get to make up on your own. I feel like the ability to take the word salad and convey emotion and meaning through body language and delivery/emphasis of each word is a whole different skill set for an actor. words from the generate scene only without any additional improv/screenwriting is definitely the most challenging (and that's what they did here for a full 10 minute screenplay!)

[fallous]

I don't mean a single word prompt, I mean you can only use the single word or phrase as dialog and have to perform a scene (also randomly provided) with other actors. Bob gets "roses," Jill gets "fire," and a third person has unrestricted dialog... now do a scene where Jill is a salesperson getting ready for pitch to a big client.

The word salad you're describing would be no more difficult than having a scene where actors have to speak gibberish (faux Klingon or something)... which coincidentally isn't unlike another improv exercise where one person has to convey a message given to them by the director to other actors but must talk gibberish or just use a single vowel sound.