From pretending to be a baby elephant and setting the questions on Mastermind to designing a set on Coronation Street — this is all unsung work which goes on behind the scenes in television.
I recently got a fascinating glimpse into the varied working life of TV professionals behind the camera in a recent Guardian Television and Radio article.
Ever heard of a foley artist? No, me neither. They recreate everyday sounds for use in film-making. Ben Jones, who works in this role, told Guardian writer Becky Barnicoat how he uses gardening gloves, a concrete floor and sand to help make the sound of a snake — and how custard powder is perfect for recreating the sound of walking in snow.
If foley artistry isn't your bag, there is a huge variety of different careers in the television industry being carried out by its 55,800-strong workforce. To help you get to grips with opportunities behind the scenes, we've assembled a panel of experts to answer your questions — join them at 1pm on 13 October.
Our panel:
Ysanne Cole is media co-ordinator for ITV Anglia Regional News Team in Norwich. Her role includes acquiring copyright licences for external material and archiving programmes. Ysanne is also an active member of BECTU, the media and entertainment union, and is particularly involved in the Women's Committee, working for women's equality in the industries BECTU covers.
Holly Blake works for the MediaGuardian Edinburgh International Television Festival. Holly's role is to coordinate two talent schemes, The Network and Fast Track, which run alongside the main festival. Both schemes help young people with aspirations of working in TV; The Network is for new entrants and Fast Track supports those with between two and four years of industry experience.
Benetta Adamson is a documentary filmmaker and a veteran campaigner for better rights for freelancers working in the television and film industry. She is a member of BECTU's National Executive Committee, a past board member of Directors UK and a founder of the internet forum for TV freelancers www.tvwatercooler.org. Benetta is working with BECTU to launch a website aimed directly at new entrants to the industry, offering positive advice on establishing a career without being exploited.
John Tarby is vice chairman of The Guild of Television Cameramen and a documentary lighting cameraman, who works in both broadcast and business television. John learned photography in the late 1960s and then cinematography. He became a freelance television cameraman in the 1980s and also helped start the Electronic Camera Company, a small video filming facility still operating today in East London.
Aaron Cazzola is head lecturer for the Digital Filmmaking Diploma programme at SAE Institute, London — SAE is a global network of digital film, animation, multimedia and audio colleges. Aaron has 10 years of experience in the Italian film-making industry working as video editor, motion graphic designer, visual effects supervisor, 3D animator and assistant director. He is also a qualified sound engineer having worked for SAE Institute as a audio supervisor.
Kate Edwards is 4Talent and Learning Co-ordinator; she manages several of Channel 4's talent initiatives including the broadcaster's internship and apprenticeship programmes as well as their online mentoring scheme.
John Hollywood is director of production for IMG Sports Media. Prior to this role, John worked in a range of positions for both the BBC and ITV, having started his career as a graduate trainee at the BBC.
Liana Stewart is director of Step2TV. Step2TV supports talent within the film and TV industry by helping people develop and produce original films through Step2TV productions and incentives.
David G Croft is head of television at the National Film and Television School (NFTS). David has directed and produced some of the most well-known entertainment programmes on network television over the past 25 years including Live Aid, Top of the Pops, The Crystal Maze and Shooting Stars.
