There is a technique used in every film called ‘Save the Cat’.
It’s the moment the protagonist “saves a cat stuck in a tree,” and wins the adoration of viewers.
Of course, saving the cat is just a metaphor for a small, selfless act.
It’s the moment Aladdin, a thief, gives his only loaf of bread to a group of hungry children.
It’s the moment Annie stops a group of boys from bullying Sandy the Dog.
It’s the moment Katniss volunteers as tribute to protect her sister from entering into the Hunger Games.
So keep an eye out, and you’ll start seeing this technique in the films you watch and the stories you read. You may also find it a handy tool to include into your own storytelling.
H/T Blake Snyder for coining the Save the Cat idea back in 2005