Jonesy Jones

I think the Pelican case is great, specially if you can open it and work. About little speakers I don't know, but maybe a little bluetooth speaker, so you don't have to wear headphones all the time in a long editing session.  

Re mixing audio on 'phones, I have been getting very good results using the plug ins from http://sonarworks.com/ - and also TB Isone http://www.toneboosters.com/tb-isone/ - I like using monitors too, have been looking at a cheap small 3" set - these seem to get good feedback and are definitely cheap - the little Alesis 320's http://www.amazon.com/Alesis-M1-Active-Monitor-Speakers/dp/B0011Z87I0

Not sure which NLE you use, but for a mobile-friendly setup, Premiere's next update is supposed to greatly improve the way the software handles proxy editing, especially on less-powerful, more portable setups, which could definitely be useful for you: 
http://blogs.adobe.com/creativecloud/whats-coming-next-in-adobe-premiere-pro-cc-and-media-encoder-cc/

Reference headphones will be far superior to any small speaker setup. I've been cutting audio spots for local radio for years, you don't have to go overboard, something like Sony 7506's are a great budget option and they're built like a tank. A hot rodded MacBook Pro with max ram and the video upgrade should do the trick for a mobile workstation, the 1tb PCIe drives are faster than the smaller ones. FCPx is much faster than any other NLE IMO. 

Audio: stick to reference quality headphones. Speakers will sound different in different environments.
External monitor: FSI BM090, small, colour accurate and can be fully calibrated.
Power: https://comingsoon-tech.com/omnicharge-intelligent-portable-power-bank/

I have heard of people using the iMac mini as a portable computer. With a small monitor or the iPad Pro as photographer-at-large suggested, you could have a smaller set up than a laptop. 

What I would do:
• wait a couple weeks....IF Apple announces new laptops at their WWDC, hopefully recharging will be via USB-C
          (then there should be many more battery options than currently with MagSafe)
• get a 12.9" iPad Pro and connect via TwoMonUSB
          (four speakers are built into iPad Pro 12.9" or 9.7", but only 9.7" has DCI-P3 gamut)

I would say it is, blended with other genres (a crime thriller/ drama), and with some good character development (similar to "The professional")... muscle & brains mix well. 
And if it isn't action, I would say it's got one of the best action scenes ever filmed.
I agree Jonesy, Matrix is right up there too... and it's also a mix.

I have been using Samsung 850 Pro 1TB SSDs in Inateck USB 3.0 enclosures (the enclosures seem to affect performance of the drives) for editing on a MacBook Pro w/ 16gb RAM. It is the only thing I have found that can keep up with 4k/hold up in real time editing (though I do often use 1/4 or 1/2 resolution in Premiere to keep things snappy). The EVO series drives seemed not able to hold up in my experience.
Has anyone else found something that works well which is also portable?
Has anyone tried the Samsung 950 PRO Series?

Regarding why it makes sense to do business or not do business with a company, I/my company has been doing biz with B&H since we started over 20 years ago.
I'm as agnostic regarding businesses as I am regarding a higher power. That said, while I/we certainly do a good deal of business with other companies for various reasons - I've done  far more with B&H than with any other entity for our film and audio post studios as well as film and audio prodution. It would be fair to say I've spent a reasonable house mortgage with them over these years.
I've never been treated with anything but respect and never experienced anything but great service. I've never had a single issue with their policies, products or staff. They're probably the best stocked and informed company in the world, all things considered.
I say this as a pretty dogmatic non-dogmatic person, who believes that the world is a better place when we respect each others differences (as long as they do no harm) and as someone who regularly needs an item for a deadline a day or so before it arrives. I've learned to work with B&H's occasionally "unorthodox" (I know) schedule because of the quality of the business relationship we've had over the years.
It's hard, in any field, to say you've never had a bad experience with someone or some business when operating at demanding levels over many instances. I can say that about B&H. 

In their announcement regarding the amicable 2007 settlement, the EEOC said: “We commend B & H for working cooperatively with us to resolve this matter without protracted litigation,” said EEOC New York Trial Attorney Lou Graziano. “We encourage other employers to follow B & H’s example of resolving discrimination cases expeditiously and in good faith.”
Regarding the suit by women alleging discrimination, see http://law.justia.com/cases/new-york/other-courts/2011/2011-ny-slip-op-33861-u.html wherein it says the plaintiff's "failure-to-promote claims are devoid of factual support." That case was then dismissed.
The CNN article says workers were "relegated to "separate, unsanitary and often inoperable restrooms." The allegations being made are unproven and untrue. There are not and have never been separate restrooms. The restrooms are as clean as those in my house. There are no "substandard conditions." Every person I know older than 14 has a cellphone with a camera. If there were separate unsanitary restrooms we’d have seen photos of them in various social media. There has not been one. Non-employees who have visited our warehouses reported seeing clean, safe, well-lit working conditions and restrooms as sanitary as those set aside for customers in our retail store.

To the OP, you could have canceled your B&H order and just bought from Amazon instead of waiting. If there's an upcoming closure, the website clearly states that with a pop up telling you exactly when it closes and reopens. This message is repeated when placing orders as well. If there's any doubt as to whether it will ship, you can call beforehand and confirm.
I bounce back and forth depending on the item. I can save on sales tax going with B&H, so most big ticket items that I can't get through Texas Media Systems (if you're in the U.S., highly recommended, I get all my preorders in the first wave through them) I go B&H.

At first it was good, they were prompt to answer questions (considering a the 11-14hr time zone delay for me)
But over the last 6 weeks I have had an ongoing case- KineMini in for mount swap, and purchased a KineMax which came with a non-functioning HDMI port. To be fair, this is the very first hardware issue that I have had with my cameras which have been rock solid. I do not find 48+ hour response times acceptable, especially when the camera is over there for service or I have a pressing need on an issue. This also includes a response time of 8 whole days during this inquiry- despite repeated requests for updates as we had a shoot approaching.
I understand that there will be additional time to respond with the time difference (and this is part of what I'm not paying for), but to qualify for amazing support, response times should be no longer than 24 hours.

I am flying Phantom 3 Advanced (2.7K cam)  for 2 weeks now, the first 1 crashed into the water ( Quality failure) I got a new one and just 3 days ago I made the mistake trying to fly under a little bridge were it lost GPS and I was to unexperienced  to fly in ATTI mode and react real quick. I thought about quitting..but I like it so much that I will try a third time..this time thinking about a Phantom3 Pro..(4K)  it has almost the same camera quality of the Phantom 4 and even the Inspire 1. Now I will take more time to learn how to fly (also without GPS)
If you want to know some more, just ask.
Here is my 'Bridge to far'
Siep

Yeah, you can always start out little and go big later... maybe this is a good entry

don't forget about ALL of the little extras that are pretty much required like micro SD cards, extra batteries, extra props and an Ipad 

The 4K aspect is a good idea. While the importance of 4K is often over-stated, for aerial footage it makes a big difference. This might be due to the detailed nature of foliage and the wide-angle nature of the shots.  Or maybe the lower-end 1080p drones just weren't delivering nearly that, making "4K" look disproportionately better (even when downscaled to 1080p).
Even flying a lower-end drone like a DJI Phantom safely and effectively (from a cinematographic standpoint) requires a considerable amount of skill. All the time you take studying that, practicing, maintaining it, etc, is subtracted from your other pre-production time. For intermittent or infrequent needs I would tend to suggest just hiring one. If you want to develop a more self-sufficient capability, be prepared for the investment in study and time. Without considerable experience it is easy to crash an expensive drone.
Also inquire locally about what your regulatory, registration and enforcement situation is. There are a lot of issues about "geofencing",  temporary flight restrictions (TFRs), etc.

Start small... These things are tricky beasts and 1 lapse of concentration can see you in trouble.... The DJI stuff is clever, but you still need to take alot of care and attention.
Get a 2nd hand phantom or something and really learn the thing, then see if you feel comfortable with a bigger rig.
I know from experience moving too quickly onto a more powerful copter and getting in what is known as the toilet bowl... 1 droidworx drone and a bmpcc smashed  to pieces on only our 3rd flight!
Once you feel comfortable though... The inspire is a nice copter... Really nice... Not sure I would want an X5R on 4 blade copter though... With 6 blades,.you have a far better chance of landing if one goes wrong.

Yeah, it looked pretty great and it's a more prosumer friendly set-up as well I think.

For any more demanding needs, just hire someone. Unless you want to specialize in aerial multirotor applications (and paperwork/risks/addn. fees).

Unless you're flying an Alexa Mini and need that last bit of highlight detail (like in the Revenant or something) I think you'd be foolish not to go with the X5R. The smaller platform is more stable. Lots of price/performance there, too–I expect the image to be competitive with anything up to and included the Dragon–but with less flexibility in terms of lens changes. But if you need to buy a new A camera, too, and are already getting a Ronin MX for it, then maybe it becomes less obvious a choice.
Also, the Osmo and Z axis would be amazing.

Plenty of useful info here too... http://www.sagindie.org There's a little misinformation in this thread, like being able to defer payment under the Ultra Low Budget Agreement. that contract requires a minimum of $125/day plus $17.3% for pension and health and you must hire a payroll service. It's the New Media agreement that allows you to negotiate payment as low as $0.

I know here it's around $650 minimum day rate for SAG actors. 

We pay a day rate. And that rate depends on which SAG-Aftra contract we're shooting under. We usually only post to Breakdown Express/Actors Access.

Actually, I just thought of a great idea! Since you're based in Los Angeles as well, how about I swing by one of your shoots with a light? Coincidentally, the Aputure product manager and I are already doing a tour of film sets in Los Angeles anyways. Seems like you've done your homework on lights so you could give us your input and feedback, which would be invaluable. Likewise, regarding your questions, the product manager is better suited to have this kind of a discussion with you anyways. You can post your findings back here afterwards.
Send me an email at ted.sim@aputure.com. Let's do this! 

I am currently using 2 Aputure 672s lights on lightweight 10' stands with 43" shoot-through umbrellas mounted for SERIOUS run-and-gun stuff... I mean like we have from 10-minutes to maybe 30-minutes to get the shots before we get either nailed by security or flat out arrested.
The guy carrying BOTH light fixtures may even have to climb over fences, etc.,

Using these Aputures was the only way this was going to work. And it surely does work. Killer.