CNN Spotlight: Paul Walker (2014)

Paul Walker's new film -- one of the last he completed -- was going to start a new chapter for the "Fast and Furious" actor, says its director.

"He had gushed to me about the new offers he was getting from people who'd seen his performance," says Eric Heisserer, the first-time director of "Hours," which opens Friday. "His career was finally going in a direction that he was excited about for the first time in many years."

The dramatic film, about a New Orleans man trying to keep his newborn alive in the face of Hurricane Katrina's chaos, marked a change of pace for Walker after making a name for himself in the "Fast and Furious" series. Walker's in practically every frame, agonizing over his baby, mourning his losses, willing himself to continue as his hospital is evacuated and the city is overwhelmed by floodwaters.

Walker died November 30 in a horrific auto accident while riding in a friend's high-performance sports car. His death has inspired shock and sadness as "Fast and Furious" colleagues remembered his spirit and fans paid tribute to his charity and generosity.

Heisserer, too, was left in shock by Walker's death. The news reached him over the Thanksgiving holiday, which he was spending in Oklahoma with family.

He remembers a "kind and patient" video-game fanatic who never pulled rank, even though he was the film's only name performer and one of its producers.

"He was just eager to do a great job, and that kind of inspired everybody else to step up their game and make sure they were committing the same way Paul was," Heisserer says.

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