An electrostatic transducer having respective first and second stators, each having an interior surface, which are displaced and juxtaposed, and including a flexible diaphragm leaving a conductive layer and being operable as an electrostatic emitter. The diaphragm includes an emitter portion which is interposed between the respective interior surfaces of the first and second stators and is configured as a nonplanar film characterized by a continuous array of peaks and valleys. The emitter portion of the diaphragm is positioned adjacent, but substantially unattached to the respective interior surfaces of the first and second stators. The peaks of the emitter portion of the diaphragm may contact the interior surfaces, or may be displaced therefrom. Also disclosed is a method for generating audio output from an electrostatic transducer utilizing a nonplanar emitter portion of a flexible, film diaphragm.