in december 1970, southern found himself in the position of having to beg dennis hopper for a profit point on "easy rider"—a request hopper refused. southern's tenuous financial position was in contrast to that of his creative partners, who became wealthy thanks to the film's commercial success. for the rest of his life, southern was repeatedly forced to take on work in order to pay tax bills and penalties, and on many occasions he struggled to keep up the mortgage payments on the east canaan farm.