might be stupid question but what was the frame rate you captured it in? you didn't mention and anyway its a mute question now and I guess you dont know how it was captured at all, as the footage was given to you ('all people get the same footage'). If it was footage from a tut it might be NSTC.., depends what camera was used, theres a lot of things it could be but you have to deal with what you got so it seems.

make it work for you,play on it.., Im sure you can work it out yourself, you're a dam good artist.