New rules keep stars' pay down to earth
Top regulators have issued rules to curb film stars' exorbitant pay and prevent tax evasion, demonstrating the country's determination to anchor the rapidly expanding showbiz industry to a sound development.
The notice was jointly released by Publicity Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, Ministry of Culture and Tourism, State Administration of Taxation, State Administration of Radio and Television and the China Film Administration on Wednesday.
It reiterated a guideline released in September requiring all performers or celebrities of a production, which could be a movie, TV show, or an audiovisual production tailored for video-streaming sites to not be paid more than 40 percent of the production's total cost. In addition, the leading cast members' pay must not exceed 70 percent of the total payment to the cast.
