China's media regulators have said that it will tighten up on the exorbitant fees being paid to the country's celebrities after a state broadcaster published a report saying that actors were pocketing earnings as high as RMB 100 million yuan (US$15 million) with a single film or television series.

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China Central Television (CCTV} reported on Friday that certain high-profile actors and actresses in China were raking in a minimum of RMB 25 million ($3.5 million) and the numbers went upwards of RMB 100 million (US$15 million).

The report cited the TV series "Ruyi's Royal Love In The Palace," which revolves around a love story that takes place during the Qing Dynasty, for overcompensating its lead cast, actor Wallace Huo and actress Zhou Xun, to the tune of RMB 150 million ($22.5 million) in total.

In the wake of the CCTV report, the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television (SAPPRFT) announced on Friday (Aug. 26) that it would instruct the actors' guilds and film and television production companies to observe self-discipline when it comes to offering appropriate compensation to actors, according to China Film Insider.

The CCTV report further pointed out that the higher remuneration paid to the film's cast did not necessarily translate into box-office success. It noted that the fantasy drama "Ice Fantasy" starring William Feng, Jiu Xian Qingyunzhi and Jiu Zhou Tiankong Cheng as well as "The Mystic Nine" featured high-profile and well-paid actors but received a poor response from viewers.

The report also quoted a producer of "Descendants of the Sun," a s South Korean television series which has a huge fan following in China, as saying that Korean stars only make up 20 to 30 percent of production costs as opposed to China, where actors account for 50 to 80 percent of the costs.

Hollywood actors' compensation only represents 10 to 30 percent of production costs, according to Olga Rodriguez-Aguirre, the national director of theatrical contracts at the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists.

Tagschina, actors, actresses, fees, chinese actors, chinese actresses, State Administration of Press Publication Radio Film and Television, SAPPRFT, actor fees, media watchdog, actor earnings