The 1969 film “Easy Rider” brought American counterculture to the mainstream. The movie starred Dennis Hopper and Peter Fonda as disillusioned hippie bikers on a quest for freedom. As the film’s director as well as its star, Dennis Hopper boosted the authenticity factor by having the cast use real marijuana and including local residents in many of the scenes. One of the first true “indie” movies, “Easy Rider” also fueled the Hollywood Renaissance, in which major studios recognized the artistic merits of low-budget films.