Peninsula all-media reporter Wang Yue
On February 10, the State Administration of Radio and Television issued the "14th Five-Year Plan" China TELEVISION Drama Development Plan (hereinafter referred to as the "Plan"). These include strengthening cost management and revenue accounting. Standardize the order of income distribution, including actors' remuneration, and promote the use of standardized, institutionalized, and unified film remuneration and other labor contracts. Resolutely oppose the "sky-high film remuneration", strictly implement the provision that the total film remuneration of all actors in each TV series shall not exceed 40% of the total production cost, and the film remuneration of the main actors shall not exceed 70% of the total film remuneration of the actor, and strengthen the filing and verification of the film remuneration contract. At the same time, it is mentioned that it is necessary to improve the whole chain and whole process supervision mechanism before and after the event, seriously deal with actors and related institutions that have violated laws and regulations such as tax evasion, "yin and yang contracts" and "sky-high film remuneration", and prohibit illegal and unethical artists from appearing in the film through TV series.
Image/CFP image courtesy of this article
In fact, the "sky-high film remuneration" and "yin and yang contract" are all problems that have long been strictly targeted and severely punished by the Central Propaganda Department, the State Administration of Taxation, the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television and other departments, and the "salary restriction order" has also been introduced for many years, but the Zheng Shuangyi-level film remuneration incident that broke out last year in the TV series "Ghost of Qiannu" still shows that such industry chaos still exists. Now the "plan" clearly defines the highest line of actors' salaries and will be completely cool if violated.
The remuneration of stars has reached more than 2/3 of the cost budget of movies, TV series, TV variety shows, online audio-visual programs, etc., which once became the unspoken rule of the film and television industry, and the remuneration of hundreds of millions of yuan was also a matter of course for celebrities. The result is a serious squeeze on the cost of important links in the film and television production chain such as scripts, shooting, and production, and shoddy content such as "fifty cent special effects" is born. Excessive dependence on the big-name effect and capital intervention has also squeezed the living space of a large number of small and medium-cost film and television comprehensive works and unfamount actors. In addition, the "pressure transmission" brought about by the "sky-high film remuneration" will further lead to box office, ratings, and click fraud, which will seriously affect the sustainable development of the entire industry.
What is more ironic is that some actors and artists with sky-high salaries have a business level that is really difficult to compliment, and the reason why the producer compromises often values its fan appeal and advertising effect. Becoming famous overnight at a young age and then wanting to get rich overnight, and these stars who have no real skills to "play big cards" are in stark contrast with those "old drama bones" and old artists who are both virtuous and artistic, regardless of film remuneration.
The use of "yin and yang contracts" to cover up the "sky-high film remuneration" also covers up the tax obligations that artists who receive sky-high film remuneration should fulfill. Artists were paid more than they deserved, and the tax authorities charged less. This kind of behavior that harms public wealth and private interests has seriously undermined the legal order and damaged the legal bottom line that the performing arts industry should abide by.
Only by restricting various frauds and speculations through norms such as establishing rules and regulations, returning the remuneration of film and television stars to the normal range, and matching the prices and values of various production factors in the cultural and entertainment industry can the film and television industry develop healthily and steadily. At the same time, the clean and healthy environment needs every practitioner to create, have the consciousness and mission to maintain industry norms and order, and those artists who have lost morality want to make a comeback through various channels, or don't dream!