Mark Ricche, a multifaceted artist, is celebrating his thirtieth anniversary as a filmmaker, theatrical producer, writer, director, actor, arts educator, financier, podcaster, and blogger. He is the CEO of Cryptic Pictures, owner and Creative Artistic Director of IMPERIAL Theatrical Production Services PRESENTS, owner and Chief Creative Director of Zoop Studios, and co-owner of Escapist-Entertainment.com.
As the founder of Cryptic Pictures LLC, an award-winning independent film production company, Ricche has produced several films, including Mortal Remains, which received four awards at film festivals. He is also the co-host of CryptiCast, a podcast for independent filmmakers, and the lead writer for The Walla Group, a blog focusing on the film industry.
Imperial Theatrical Production Services Presents, a theatrical production company focused on educating youth in the classical arts, has received several awards and honors, including the Maryland Theater Citation for Contributions to Educational Theater. Ricche has been commissioned to write and direct for the Kennedy Center and has performed at Arena Stage, produced for Olney Theatre, and been a resident director and commissioned writer with Round House Theater.
Ricche has also won the Mid-Atlantic Regional Best Actor Award for two consecutive years and has produced several award-winning productions. He has taught in over fifty schools and instructional institutions in Maryland, D.C., and Northern Virginia, involving various performing arts mediums, including Shakespearean studies, film/video production, mime, dance, improv, playwriting, and screenwriting.
As owner and Chief Creative Director of Zoop Studios, Ricche is involved in the day-to-day operations and creative development of one of the internet's newest leaders in online content aggregation. He is also co-owner of Escapist Entertainment, an entertainment services company that has been hired by major corporations such as Sprint.com and Glatfelter Industries, performing nationally from Los Angeles to Boston to Washington, D.C.
