Cryptic Pictures LLC is an award winning independent film production company  founded  by Mr. Ricche in 2009. Previously in 2008, Mr. Ricche's film work  acquired  the attention of the American Film Institute where eight of his short film projects were screened. His company's most recent feature film, Mortal Remains, received four awards at film festivals in Philadelphia, Pa., Northern Virginia  and Atlanta, Ga.  In association with Cryptic Pictures, Mr. Ricche is also the co-host of CryptiCast, a podcast for independent filmmakers and the lead  writer for The Walla Group, and blog focusing on the industry and commerce of the modern day film industry.  He also heads the company's literary division, Cryptic Pictures Management and distribution wing, C.P. Digital Distribution.

​

IMPERIAL Theatrical Production Services PRESENTS is a Washington D.C. based theatrical production company focused primarily on educating in the classical arts, with a special emphasis on Shakespearean studies.  The company is the recipient of the Maryland Theater Citation for Contributions to Educational Theater. The company has also received  honorable mention for its service in teaching the dramatic arts to students with special needs in Montgomery County, Md. In his work with I.T.P.S.P.,  Mr. Ricche has been commissioned in the adaptation of 14 Shakespearean plays adapted for the youth stage. 

​

Mr. Ricche's work in and around the Washington D.C. theatre community has included  being commissioned to write and direct for the Kennedy Center (“Fighting Back: Ideological and Theatrical Responses to Oppression”), as well being the commissioned director for the theatrical residency "Sobering Thoughts", a multi year project funded via grant from the Maryland State Governors Office on Crime Control and Prevention.  Regionally Mr. Ricche has performed for the Arena Stage, produced for Olney Theatre and was a resident director and a commissioned writer with Round House Theater (the Heyday Players-- work for which he received an Artistic Commendation from Montgomery County Council Executive Douglas Duncan). 

 

Mr. Ricche is also the winner of the Mid-Atlantic Regional Best Actor Award for two consecutive years.  He has produced several award winning productions for the Maryland State Theatre Festival, the National Invitational Theatre Festival as well as the Folger Shakespeare Festival. Mr. Ricche has taught in over fifty schools and/or instructional institutions in Maryland, D.C. and Northern Virginia in programs involving various performing arts mediums, including: classical theatre studies, film/video production, mime, dance, improv, playwriting and screenwriting. 

​

As owner and Chief Creative Director for ZoopStudios.com, Mr, Ricche is involved in the day to day operations and creative development of one of the internet's newest leaders in online content aggregation.  The company's most recent short film "Waiting for Galdot" was selected as a winner for the ScriptDC "Let's Make a Short" contest and is currently preparing for its festival run.

 

Mr. Ricche's writing career began in 1995 with his first festival win at the Wisconsin Screenwriters Forum, in which he shared the top spot with his script, "Point Imperial". Mr. Ricche's work as an author has since garnered him numerous  awards. In 2022 his his script, entitled "The Congregation"  awarded  him fellowship status in the WIFV Narrative Screenplay Fellowship. That script also received an Official Selection at Shockfest LA, Quarter Finalist recognition in the Filmmatic Horror Screenplay Contest, and Second Round Advancement with the International Screenwriters Association Fastrack Fellowship. Mr. Ricche is also currently soliciting his female driven Script "Daredevil", which was recently advanced to the semi finals round in the Stage 32 Female Driven Screenplay Contest. and which was selected as one of the Top 10 Scripts  in the family category with the Page International Screenwriting Contest. His feature film "Mortal Remains" received the Best Screenplay Award at the NOVA Film Festival in 2016. He is also the author of the "children's book for adults", entitled  "The Precious Princess", released in 2022 by I.PT.P.S. Publishing Company, and author of numerous youth theatre adaptations of the Bard.  Mark's currently writer and producer of the Broadway Production "Journey: The Musical" based on the life story and music of the arena rock band Journey. 

​

Mr. Ricche is also co-owner of Escapist Entertainment, an entertainment services company that has been hired by such major nation wide corporations as Sprint.com and Glatfelter Industries.  The company has performed coast to coast, from Los Angeles, California, to Boston, Massachusetts.