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The student news site of Westwood High School.

Westwood Horizon
The student news site of Westwood High School.

Westwood Horizon
Oliver Barnfield

Oliver Barnfield, Video Editor

Class of 2023

I am currently Westwood Horizon’s video editor, and also one of the hosts of Friendcast, our website’s podcast video series. In addition to student press, I’m also very active in Westwood’s Theatre department, make silly videos with my friends, and I also write and perform music by myself and with my band, Bad Zebra.

All content by Oliver Barnfield

Westwood Parkour!

Oliver Barnfield and Baker Tuthill
April 28, 2023

Rating the Greek Gods with Oliver and Baker

Baker Tuthill and Oliver Barnfield
April 14, 2023
The Police vs U2 - Battle of the 80s Blockbuster Bands (Part Two)

The Police vs U2 – Battle of the 80s Blockbuster Bands (Part Two)

Oliver Barnfield, Video Editor
April 4, 2023
The Police vs U2 - Battle of the 80s Blockbuster Bands

The Police vs U2 – Battle of the 80s Blockbuster Bands

Oliver Barnfield, Video Editor
March 31, 2023
Pixar released many shorts over their lifetime as a company, but not all of them were created equal.

Reviewing Pixar Shorts Throughout the Years

Oliver Barnfield and Baker Tuthill
March 29, 2023

Exploring Westwood’s Ditch (VIDEO)

Oliver Barnfield and Baker Tuthill
February 25, 2023
Horizon's Best Albums of 2022

Horizon’s Best Albums of 2022

Aanika Hirode, Amy Simon, Hannah Ashtari, Indy McBrearty, Jayant Bettadpur, Oliver Barnfield, and Sabrina Kim
January 13, 2023

Rating Westwood’s Wood

Oliver Barnfield and Baker Tuthill
December 11, 2022

Westwood Confessions

Avery Hixson, Amy Simon, Amelie Puga, and Oliver Barnfield
December 7, 2022
Westwood Children's Theatre students delighted with a brilliant set of performances designed for younger viewers.

Children’s Theater Classes Present Bedtime Stories (As Told By Our Dad) (Who Messed Them Up)

Oliver Barnfield, Video Editor
December 5, 2022
70s New Wave music is far more guitar-driven and angular than its 80s counterpart, but it contained just as many classic hits provided by striking and iconic bands.

Top 25 New Wave Songs

Oliver Barnfield, Video Editor
November 10, 2022
Screen Shot 2022-11-06 at 11.29.11 AM

Finding Westwood’s Coldest Water Fountain

Oliver Barnfield and Baker Tuthill
November 6, 2022

Homecoming Football Game Highlights (VIDEO)

Oliver Barnfield, Video Editor
October 23, 2022
Weezer's first album is a popular and iconic album on the internet, but does it deserve its fame?

Why Weezer’s Blue Album is the Best Album of the 90’s

Baker Tuthill and Oliver Barnfield
October 13, 2022

Behind The Scenes of Westwood Theatre’s Puffs

Oliver Barnfield, Video Editor
October 12, 2022

Westwood Students Visit TXETA 2022 in Galveston

Oliver Barnfield, Video Editor
September 26, 2022
Ms. Elizabeth Gross first pursued an associate's degree in Exhibit design at the Fashion Institute of Technology in NYC before finding her passion for Art Education.

Art Teacher Ms. Elizabeth Gross Grows Into Teaching

Jessica Wang, Heritage Section Editor
September 5, 2022
An Interview with New Associate Principal, Ms. Jessica Rinehart

An Interview with New Associate Principal, Ms. Jessica Rinehart

Shivani Kondubhatla and Oliver Barnfield
August 31, 2022
Stability and Change: Ms. Campbell Discusses Progress and Priorities

Stability and Change: Ms. Campbell Discusses Progress and Priorities

Shreya Selvaraju, Horizon Editor-In-Chief
July 25, 2022
The stars of "The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, abridged" act out a comedic scene on stage.

One Last Shine: Westwood Theater Captures Audiences With Senior-Directed Plays

Oliver Barnfield, Video Editor
May 4, 2022
Westwood Musical Theater students enjoyed the opportunity to take stylish red carpet photos at the 2022 Heller Awards for Young Artists. Photo courtesy of Westwood Theater

Musical Theater Students Attend Heller Awards in Celebration of “Anything Goes” Production

Oliver Barnfield, Video Editor
April 20, 2022
With her character disguised as a bravo, Steinhauser strikes a pose as Oliver Barnfield '23 looks on.

[GALLERY] Theater Revamps ‘The Impostures of Scapin’ for UIL Presentation

Alana True and Oliver Barnfield
April 6, 2022
SunDancer social board President Jessica Hao '22 gets lifted during Escapade. The team was sorted into split groups to perform in either a slow routine or fast routine.

Westwood Dance Dazzles Audiences At Escapade Spring Show

Oliver Barnfield and Scott Seamon
April 4, 2022

Westwood Students Place at Stony Point Battle of the Bands

Oliver Barnfield, Video Editor
March 29, 2022

Reviewing Westwood’s New Wing

Oliver Barnfield, Reagan Babbitt, and Hannah Jourdan
March 24, 2022
Sophisti-pop was a genre that mixed jazzy subtlety with '80s synths, and it was during the decade's later years that the genre truly hit its stride. Here are the 25 must-listen songs in this excellent genre. Graphic by Oliver Barnfield.

25 Essential Sophisti-Pop Songs

Oliver Barnfield, Video Editor
March 4, 2022
Power pop is a genre full of catchy choruses and crunchy guitars, and while it occasionally teetered into the mainstream, it's still fairly niche. Read about the top 20 tracks to get you started. Graphic by Oliver Barnfield.

20 Essential Power Pop Songs

Oliver Barnfield, Video Editor
January 19, 2022

The Mr. Mott Song (VIDEO)

Oliver Barnfield, Video Editor
December 20, 2021

Westwood’s Weirdest Anomalies

Reagan Babbitt, Oliver Barnfield, and Hannah Jourdan
December 13, 2021
Doug Walker reined supreme on the internet for years, but his empire came crashing down after details came to light about his company's past transgressions.

To Boldly Flounder: The Cautionary Tale of Internet Sensation ‘The Nostalgia Critic’

Oliver Barnfield and Reagan Babbitt
December 8, 2021

Friday Flex: Local Musician Sophia Johnson Shares Her Journey Through the Music Industry, Inspiring Students

Hannah McDonough, Horizon Assistant Editor
December 2, 2021

What Are Westwood Warriors’ Thankful For?

Oliver Barnfield and Hannah Jourdan
December 2, 2021

What Are Westwood Warriors’ Favorite Thanksgiving Foods?

Hannah Jourdan and Oliver Barnfield
November 22, 2021
The 80s produced a wide variety of great and terrible music. But what does your taste in this unique music time period say about your personality? Find out in this article!

What Your Favorite 80s Artist says about You

Oliver Barnfield, Video Editor
November 5, 2021

Is Westwood Haunted? (VIDEO)

Oliver Barnfield and Reagan Babbitt
October 29, 2021

2021 HOCO Highlights

Chloe Boyd, Amoli Agarwal, Eshaan Chopra, Oliver Barnfield, Alana True, and Hannah Ashtari
October 19, 2021
Soft Rock was one of the most dominant music genres in the 1970s, but by the '80s, it wasn't taken very seriously. Let's give it another look and list the 25 best songs in the genre. Graphic by Oliver Barnfield.

Top 25 Soft Rock Songs

Oliver Barnfield, Video Editor
October 1, 2021
1971 saw the release of two very different but also very similar road movies. Here's why they're worth watching.

‘Two-Lane Blacktop’ vs ‘Vanishing Point’: 1971’s Weirdest Road Movies

Oliver Barnfield, Video Editor
September 22, 2021

Ranking the Westwood Entrances

Oliver Barnfield and Reagan Babbitt
September 20, 2021

Ranking the Streaming Services

Oliver Barnfield, Reagan Babbitt, and Zach Maynes
September 10, 2021
The 2010s were a fascinating time for music. Here are the ten best pop songs released in that decade. Graphic by Oliver Barnfield.

The Best Pop Songs of the 2010s

Oliver Barnfield, Video Editor
September 6, 2021
Students wait for the buses underneath the new canopy.

Students Respond to New Bus Canopy

Oliver Barnfield, Video Editor
September 3, 2021
Film director Robert Altman had a varied and fascinating career, and in this article we explore the second half of his 1970s work.

Robert Altman: The Greatest Director of the ‘70s (Part Two)

June 4, 2021
Film director Robert Altman had a varied and fascinating career, and in this article we explore the second half of his 1970s work.

Robert Altman: The Greatest Director of the ‘70s (Part Two)

Oliver Barnfield, Video Editor
June 4, 2021
Film director Robert Altman had a varied and fascinating career, and in this article we explore the first half of his 1970s work.

Robert Altman: The Greatest Director of the ‘70s

Oliver Barnfield, Video Editor
May 25, 2021

Friendcast Episode 5: Ranking the Top-Grossing Franchises

Oliver Barnfield, Zach Maynes, and Reagan Babbitt
May 23, 2021
Sometimes, for whatever reason, songs and albums fall through the cracks of time. Let's examine some of them.

Most Mysterious Pieces of Music Ever

Oliver Barnfield, Video Editor
May 21, 2021
'Nightmares and Dreamscapes' is the true definition of a mixed bag, and today we rank all of the stories contained. Art by Suntup Editions, graphic by Oliver Barnfield.

Ranking the Stories in Stephen King’s ‘Nightmares and Dreamscapes’

Oliver Barnfield and Zach Maynes
May 5, 2021

Friendcast Episode 4: Worst and Best Movie Theater Moments

April 29, 2021

Friendcast Episode 3: Hackers

April 19, 2021
Charlie Kaufman's 2020 Netflix film has been unfairly overlooked at the Oscars. Here we find out why. Photo courtesy of Indiewire

2021’s Biggest Oscar Snub

Oliver Barnfield, Video Editor
April 7, 2021
Tony Hawk Pro Skater 4 is renowned for its excellent soundtrack, and in this article we'll be ranking the songs heard in this gaming masterpiece. Image courtesy of Nerdporium

Ranking the Songs in ‘Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3’

Oliver Barnfield, Video Editor
April 2, 2021
Spanning over 11 seasons, 'The X-Files' was one of the most iconic shows of the '90s. Today we look at the first four seasons.Photo courtesy of Wired

Revisiting the X-Files: Seasons 1-4

Oliver Barnfield, Video Editor
March 31, 2021
New Order made some of the best music of the ‘80s. But where to start with their long career? Photo courtesy of Discogs

A Beginner’s Guide to New Order

Oliver Barnfield, Video Editor
March 23, 2021
Part Two of our interview with author Melissa Maerz. Jacket design by Caroline Johnson, Jacket illustration by Carolyn Figel, Photo courtesy of Keith Bormuth.

An Interview with Melissa Maerz: Covering the Engaging History of ‘Dazed and Confused’ Part Two

Oliver Barnfield, Video Editor
March 10, 2021
Melissa Maerz wrote the definitive history of Richard Linklater's 1993 film 'Dazed and Confused'. We had a talk with her about writing the book. Jacket design by Caroline Johnson, Jacket illustration by Carolyn Figel, Photo couresy of Keith Bormuth.

An Interview with Melissa Maerz: Covering the Engaging History of ‘Dazed and Confused’

Oliver Barnfield, Video Editor
March 4, 2021
'The Cable Guy' is mostly forgotten today, but has it been overlooked? Photo courtesy of Dress Like That

The Dark Genius of ‘The Cable Guy’

Oliver Barnfield, Video Editor
March 1, 2021
The 80s brought us a lot of pretty bad music, but some buried gems do exist in the decade.

Underrated Albums of the 80’s

Oliver Barnfield, Video Editor
February 25, 2021
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Ranking the Short Stories of Stephen King’s ‘Skeleton Crew’

Oliver Barnfield and Zach Maynes
February 24, 2021

Friendcast Episode 2: Bootleg Garfield

February 10, 2021
'Manhunter' is the forgotten first installment in the 'Silence of the Lambs' universe. But with the power of a devoted cult fanbase, it has survived. Does it stand the test of time? Photo courtesy of Movie Mahal, Logo courtesy of Oscar Favorite

‘Manhunter’: The Hannibal Prequel Time Forgot

Oliver Barnfield, Video Editor
January 25, 2021
Talking Heads released only eight studio albums and countless songs. But which ones are essential? Original photo courtesy of Rock Cellar Magazine, graphic courtesy of Oliver Barnfield

A Beginner’s Guide to Talking Heads

Oliver Barnfield, Video Editor
January 21, 2021

Friendcast Episode 1: The Super Mario Bros. Movie

January 14, 2021
High School is an endlessly entertaining subject, and of course it has spawned countless films. But which ones are the best of this large genre? Mean Girls poster courtesy of Wikipedia, Dazed and Confused poster courtesy of Criterion, Clueless and Three O'Clock High posters courtesy of IMDB

Top 10 Movies About High School

Oliver Barnfield, Video Editor
January 8, 2021
There have been nine 'Star Wars' films in the so-called "Skywalker Saga". But which ones are the best? Photo courtesy of Suzy Rice. Graphic courtesy of Oliver Barnfield.

Ranking the ‘Stars Wars Saga’

Oliver Barnfield, Zach Maynes, and Reagan Babbitt
December 18, 2020
Disco was the dominant music genre of the 1970s, but backlash quickly followed. How does it stand now, and did it deserve all the hate? Photo courtesy of Amanda Edwards and Getty Images with John Travolta from the film Saturday Night Fever, directed by John Badham.

Disco Deserved Better

Oliver Barnfield, Video Editor
December 14, 2020
20 of legendary author Stephen King's "Excursions into Horror" are presented in Night Shift, but which are the best and which are the worst?

Ranking the Stories in Stephen King’s ‘Night Shift’

Oliver Barnfield and Zach Maynes
December 7, 2020
With their 13 studio albums, every Beatles fan has their favorite. But what does this favorite say about you?

What Your Favorite Beatles Album Says About You

Oliver Barnfield, Video Editor
December 1, 2020
The 80s were a great time for comedies, but not all of them have stood the test of time. These 10 picks definitely do.

Top 10 80s Comedies

Oliver Barnfield, Video Editor
November 22, 2020
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