Creative intent input describing emotion expectations and narrative information relating to media content is received. Expected physiologically observable states relating to the media content are generated based on the creative intent input. An audiovisual content signal with the media content and media metadata comprising the physiologically observable states is provided to a playback apparatus. The audiovisual content signal causes the playback device to use physiological monitoring signals to determine, with respect to a viewer, assessed physiologically observable states relating to the media content and generate, based on the expected physiologically observable states and the assessed physiologically observable states, modified media content to be rendered to the viewer.