While attending the University of Southern California to study linguistics, Jaffe developed a keen interest foreign films from directors like François Truffaut, Akira Kurosawa, and Michelangelo Antonioni.[7] His first job in the industry came when he was involved in the making of a behind-the-scenes documentary of the critically acclaimed 1972 drama filmFat City[8] through producer Ray Stark, who had established a scholarship at USC in his son's name. Stark proposed a promotional film that would intersperse behind-the-scenes footage with footage of real boxers on whom the film was based. Jaffe worked closely with director John Huston during production.[9]
On the verge of being drafted with only one semester of school left, Jaffe flew to Amsterdam where he stayed for a year. While there, he served as an assistant director on the film Lifespan and as a personal assistant to its director Alexander Whitelaw. His father, upon leaving his position at United Artists, convinced Jaffe to join him in Spain for the film The Wind and the Lion after an initial refusal to avoid accusation of nepotism.[10]
Jaffe served as an associate producer on the 1977 horror filmDemon Seed, which he co-wrote with his brother Robert and co-produced with his father Herb. He wrote and produced Motel Hell with Robert in 1980.
In 2008, he formed the independent production company Helix Films with producers Gaukhar Noortas and Kevin Foo.[13][14] He wrote, produced, and directed Gahan Wilson: Born Dead, Still Weird, a documentary based on the life of the eponymous cartoonist.[15]
