Seventeen article

[Still Dirrty]

If you feel like you know CMM, 23, from watching The WB’s One Tree Hill, you’re about to see a whole new side of him. Though he has a rock-solid career and the kind of relationship he always wanted (he got engaged to Sophia Bush, his OTH costar in June), he has one more secret passion to fulfill---- to be a screenwriter. The Buffalo, New York, native has been writing scripts about his past that may be a bit darker than you’d expect--- and they may be his most impressive work yet.

17: Congrats on your engagement!
CMM: Thank you very much.

17: When you were 17 would the idea of settling down early have freaked you out?
CMM: No, not at all. [Laughs] The fact of the matter is, as a human being, I think families are important. And finding a life with someone who is completely compatible with me is incredibly important I’ve thought about it ever since I was young. I always thought it was one of the more important things in my life that I had to make sure I discovered.

17: You were raised by a single dad. Did he give you advice about love?
CMM: My dad was married for 20 years, and then my mom left. And my dad still says with everything that happened that he wouldn’t trade a day of those 20 years to make the outcome and different which gives me the greatest hope and positive feeling for love. So basically to me I think that’s the most important thing. He always says that if you can be happy with someone in a cardboard box, you’ll be good. I’m trying to explain exactly how he said it---- it doesn’t matter where you live or where you are---- it just matters who you’re with.

17: What’s it like to work with the person you’re engaged to?
CMM:[/b]When a new character comes on the set and has to make out with my fiancée, yea I’m going to say a few things to the guy. But that’s just me [laughs]

17: what do you do when you’re not working?
CMM: Well, just the other day I was started getting up and going to Starbucks to go write. That’s what I’ve been doing while we’ve been on the phone. So I’m gonna have a coffee/ I’m gonna go write.

17: What have you been writing?
CMM: Life stories. I want to put out projects that have a lot to do with childhood what it was like growing up. Stories that don’t necessarily have a happy ending. Artistic pieces that really delve into a character’s mind and pull out some of the stuff that you don’t normally see--- you know, the kind of stuff that everyone’s thinking but nobody ever says? I want to be able to visually show that. So I’ve got a few things in the works. It’s just important to me to make a great work and great art.

17: Is it scary to write autobiographical stuff?
CMM: Autobiographical? I don’t put anything down that anyone would ever assume is about me. Hold on a second. I’m ordering coffee. And my call waiting keeps ringing. It’s hilarious.

17: Oh sorry to keep you!
CMM: No, it’s all right, I don’t feel like talking to half those people anyway. They’ll keep me on the phone for hours. I’ll just want to smack’em. So where were we? You know it’s exciting to put your ideas and your vision of how life is for certain people on paper. I think if you come from a background with a lot of experiences, why not bring the truth to film? I think that’s the best way to do it. So no I don’t feel embarrassed--- I just hope people can really understand and appreciate it, that’s all.

Then the little picture of him and Sophia says
”I just went, She’s the one---why would I bother looking any farther” says Chad