A musician, a YouTuber, and a Tik Tok star battle their egos and depression in “Things That Happen,” an urgent new drama by Bobby McCoy. Filled with style and momentum, this disturbing depiction of young adults (or old kids) lost in a vapid and cruel media landscape tracks three young characters through the fantasy worlds of fame and influence, at least ones they’re trying to create for themselves. Particularly shallow is the plight of Jason Vladimir, a lip-syncing social media star aiming to translate his Tik Tok fame into a major label debut record. He embarks on a series of interviews describing his vision — “all these girls want me, but there’s another girl who’s, like, the one I really want” — while engaging in the increasingly common (and I would argue insidious) act of trying to inspire others to seek fame (“stay grinding, hustle, it’s the land of the free”). Also striving is Sammy, a songwriter who bookends the film with two versions of a song that begins: “everybody sucks / everyone deserves to die.” The character offering the most pathos may be Sarah, a YouTuber who posts satirical ASMR videos (about Wendy’s™ for instance), only to be ripped apart by savage commenters. All three are depressed and hanging by a thread, and the film is an up-to-the-minute portrayal of their hopeless lifestyles, job opportunities, and world views. -KA. Director: Bobby McCoy. Director of Photography: Mikey Santos. Principle cast: Candace Carrizales, Jean Delkhaste, Brodie Reed, Robby Massey, Taylor Bybee, Bobby McCoy. Editor: Bobby McCoy.