MANILA, Philippines?People who want to make it in show business quickly discover that they?ve stepped into an alternate, albeit parallel universe, where different priorities, realities and values hold sway.

Take the matter of language: In the real world, some words? meanings are different from what they mean in the entertainment universe. So, if you want to survive and even thrive in the biz, you?ve got to get hip on biz speak.

Some people think that show biz speak is similar to swardspeak or gayspeak. Well, up to a point, that?s true?but, it?s far from the whole story.

Incorrect perception

Take the seemingly simple and forthright word, misunderstanding. In the real world, it means a difference of opinion resulting from an incorrect perception of the terms involved in an arrangement or relationship.

In the reel world, however, misunderstanding can be made to mean a host of other things, depending on the extent of the need to fudge or cover up facts.

When two show biz denizens have a disagreement, or get into an argument or an all-out brawl, they cover up the violent emotion or stress involved by saying that they simply had a ?misunderstanding.?

This is nonsense, since nothing was misunderstood. The combatants knew full well what the situation was, they simply had a vicious fight.

But, viciousness has no place in the show biz world, since it?s supposed to be about beauty and glamour, so everything nasty is blithely swept under the rug and sweetly described as a mere ?misunderstanding.?

Context

Another term given a different meaning when used in the show biz context is ?we?re just friends.? This cover-up declaration is uttered so often by show biz couples that it?s practically become an industry mantra.

Stars and starlets in love or in heat say they?re ?just friends? even when they?re caught smooching up a storm or sleeping over in each other?s pads.

The ultimate spectacle is the sight of lovers already expecting a baby, and still resolutely declaring, ?We?re really just friends.? ?How ?friendly? can you get?

And, quite often, a couple breaks up without even admitting that they were more than ?just friends? in the first place!

Why do they do it? Some stars say that early declarations of love are premature, because relationships first have to be ?tested? before being admitted to. Then, too, some celebrities play the field, and don?t like being ?limited? by a forthright declaration of romantic commitment.

Other terms with ?new? meanings in the entertainment world: ?Exclusive??used to describe most show biz gossip reports on TV. Trouble is, after catching the item on one channel, when viewers switch to another TV station, the same gossip report is aired. ?So much for ?exclusive?!

Predictable

?Magandang-magan- da ang movie namin, puno ito ng aral!? Fine, but when you watch the actual film, it?s as predictable and unexceptional as many other productions. ?So much for ?uniqueness? and ?excellence.?

?No, wala kaming issue or rivalry.? This is the standard reply coolly stated by feuding stars or starlets. They may be pulling each other?s hair and gouging one another?s eyes out behind closed doors, but in public, they?re symbiotic sweetness personified.

And then, there?s ?Gagawin kitang bida sa susunod na pelikula ko,? the seductive mantra uttered by some producers and directors to get star-struck newcomers to do everything they want. And, its show biz meaning? Why, absolutely nothing at all!