On set aboard the U.S.S. Slater

A retired U.S. Naval destroyer docked near the Port of Albany may spark more tourism to the area, especially from Japan, after a soon-to-be-released film finds its way to theaters.

The U.S.S. Slater is the only remaining American destroyer afloat in the U.S. and that distinction is at least one of the reasons it was chosen by a Japanese producer as the stage for scenes of the upcoming war film "Orion in Midsummer."

Production of the film by Destiny Productions and Crossmedia of Tokyo began in Japan in June. But American scenes were filmed aboard the U.S.S. Slater between Aug. 15 and 26.

This past week, the Slater staff, principal film crew and two American actors convened a press conference dockside to talk about the experience.

The film is about a fictional World War II American destroyer stalking her final Japanese submarine on the eve of Victory over Japan Day. "Shohei Kotaki (the producer) came to Albany with (line producer) Shin Fukumori to interview some of our World War II vets ... Sho scouted several locations, but ultimately, because of his close association with New York-based producer Masashi Miyama, the dedication of the Slater's volunteers and the quality of our restoration, he chose to film the American portions of the movie here in Albany," said Timothy Rizzuto, executive director of the U.S.S. Slater.