ˈæftɚ ɡɹˈædjuːˌeɪɾɪŋ fɹʌmðə jˌuːˌɛssˈiː skˈuːl ʌv sˌɪnɪmˈæɾɪk ˈɑːɹts ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd sˈɛvənti θɹˈiː, zˈɪskɪn bɪɡˈæn baɪ ɹˈaɪɾɪŋ mətˈɪɹiəl fɔːɹ ɡˈeɪm ʃˈoʊz, ðˈɛn bɪkˌeɪm ðə pˈɜːsənəl ɐsˈɪstənt ʌv dʒˈɑːn pˈiːɾɚz.
After graduating from the USC School of Cinematic Arts in 1973, Ziskin began by writing material for game shows, then became the personal assistant of Jon Peters.