Cap star paychecks to foster quality films

The fat paychecks celebrities get for acting in movies and TV series have grabbed headlines during this year's annual sessions of the National People's Congress, China's top legislature, and Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee, the country's top political advisory body.

Lei Xianhe, a political advisor and senior film director from Changchun, Northeast China's Jilin province, said the money stars get usually account for more than 50 percent of the total production cost of a film.

"Last year alone, the incomes of China's top and second-level actors increased 2.5 times", said Wang Leiqing, head of TV drama and film productions in Shanghai Media Group. "For certain films, their remunerations exceed 75 percent of the total cost."