persisting settings for individual files

I often apply different crop settings to each video file, select and turn subtitles on/off, select audio streams and apply various video filters immediately after opening a file.

It would be incredible if these, or any settings applied to a file, could be saved in the file's metadata, or an external settings file. If this is possible, it would also be useful if this data could be applied to a playlist, directory or group of files (like an album or television show).