[Really Cool] Conclusion: The DP nor myself knows whether he shot in the 1080p (24 over 60i) hvx mode or the 1080/24pA mode (24 with advance pulldown over 60i). Do you have any suggestions?
It sounds like this is your problem.
There is no 1080P on the HVX just 1080i that you can set frames to be 24P or 24pA, as noted both are over 60i. The difference is how they will be used in FCP – 24P would be used in a 29.97 timeline but give you the 24P feel to the footage. Great if you are mixing framerates. 24pA is when you want to edit in a 23.98 timeline, which it sounds like you do but it also sounds like you shot in 24P instead of 24pA.
I think you can get Cinema Tools to remove the pull down but I know Shake can do it since you can choose the difference cadences and tell it which one to start on. The down side is it takes time to render, since you said you where in QT mode on the firestore you will have a lot of small files to go through.