Pricy stars

    CHINA’S television regulator is moving to curb the extremely high payments to TV stars, who are thought to be the guarantee for popular TV dramas, according to a circular made public Friday. The State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television (SAPPRFT) in its circular banned broadcasters from designating the actors and actresses they want for new shows. They have also been forbidden to price the shows based on the stars casted.

    Chinese actress Zhou Xun is reportedly paid 95 million yuan (US$14.3m) for playing the leading role in “Ruyi’s Love in the Palace.” “Payrolls now comprise roughly two-thirds of the producing budget of a TV series,” according to an industry insider.

    Awards

    FENG SHAOFENG is crowned the best actor for his role in “Wolf Totem” at the 33rd Hundred Flowers Awards, beating Feng Xiaogang who won a Golden Horse for his acting in “Mr. Six.” “Mr. Six” helped Xu Qing win the best actress title and also Li Yifeng best supporting actor.

    Best picture and best script awards went to crime thriller “The Dead End.” Wuershan won best director for “Mojin: The Lost Legend,” which also won Angelababy best actress in a supporting role. Zhuang Xiaolong was named best new artist for “Wolf Warriors.”

    The Chinese film awards ceremony was held Saturday in Tangshan, Hebei Province.

    Adam Levine’s baby

    TWO days after welcoming their first child, Dusty Rose Levine, Behati Prinsloo shared the first official snap of her baby girl via Instagram.

    In the sweet black-and-white pic, baby Dusty, deep in a snooze, adorably rests her head on Adam Levine’s tatted chest. “Words can’t describe,” Prinsloo captioned it, using a heart emoji. The Maroon 5 frontman also shared the photo to his own account, simply writing, “Dusty Rose Levine 9/21/16.”

    New album

    LADY Gaga is introducing “Joanne” to the world.

    The pop star posted the track list Friday for her forthcoming album online.

    In addition to the title track and the recently released single “Perfect Illusion,” the 11-song “Joanne” features tunes with such titles as “John Wayne” and “Sinner’s Prayer.”

    The image of the album’s blue-and-white art also revealed that a song called “Hey Girl” is a collaboration with singer Florence Welch. The name Joanne is both a middle name of Lady Gaga, whose real name is Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, and the first name of her deceased aunt. (SD-Agencies)