China caps film star pay, citing 'money worship' and fake contracts
Lead actors’ pay packets restricted to 70% of total wages for the cast of a show
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jun/28/china-caps-film-star-pay-citing-money-worship-and-fake-contracts
Chinese authorities are capping the salaries of celebrities, blaming the entertainment industry for encouraging “money worship” and “distorting social values”.
The salaries of on-screen performers should be capped at 40% of the total production costs, according to a joint notice from five government agencies including China’s tax authority, the television and film regulator, and the propaganda department. Leading actors should receive no more than 70% of total wages for the cast, according to the announcement, published in Xinhua.
The directive – the same as guidelines released last year by the China Alliance of Radio Film and Television – comes after a series of Chinese celebrities were accused of signing fake contracts to evade taxes.